419 scam: OFFICE FILE <office--file02@att.net> Attn Legal Beneficiary of $2.8m;

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22996970958 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westernunion9963@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICE FILE <office--file02@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunion9963@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:03:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attn Legal Beneficiary of $2.8m;

Attn Legal Beneficiary of $2.8m;

The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of US $2.8million after the meeting held on 13th of Feb 2011.

His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your funds through our westernunion money transfer because of our ELECTION will take place lastly by monday next and New PRESIDENT will come up, for easy receive of your inheritance funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through internet now ,You are required to send your name and address Where you want your fund to be send to you through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.The maximmum amount you will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is $5,000.00) and the MTCN NO#will be sent along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive pickup through any Western Union Location in your Country, but note that you will send to them any amount that you have as from $39.00 to $100 usd any amount that you can afford so that you can have your western union payout pickup,

Meanwhile here is the information that you will use to send the any amount that you can afford so that your western union payout can start immediately.Remember that you will send the fee through Western Union with this information below.

Reciever's name,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mr Chinedu Success.

Country,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Benin Republic,

City,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Cotonou,

Text Question,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,In God?

Answer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,We Trust,

Amount,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$39 usd,

Mtcn 10 digit control number ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sender's name,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Note that this is for their transfer charges fee ok. Send your inforrmation to MR.DANIEL KOMAN of westernunion money transfer in Cotonou Benin Republic.And He will payout your first payment after you send to him the amount that you can afford from $39 usd up to $100 usd,Please give him your current tel phone number for easy communication.

Receiver name--------------

Country-----------------------

City....................

Test question...............

Answer...................

Tel phone----------------------

Age..........................

For further procedure Contact our payment officer with the information below;

ATTENTION; MR.DANIEL KOMAN.

E-mail (westernunion9963@yahoo.fr

TELE PHONE +229 96970958.

Try to fill the Above Informations where they will be sending you your money and also call MR.DANIEL KOMAN as soon as you send the information to them,

Your faithfuly

Office File

Anti-fraud resources:

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