419 scam: "Mr. Terry Cool" <intertresury@benin.gov.com> YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

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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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22999710108 (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.
- federalministryfinance@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Terry Cool" <intertresury@benin.gov.com>
Reply-To: federalministryfinance@superposta.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2011 14:44:13 -0400
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

I am Mr. Terry Cool , the Chair person in charge of Treasury Department,
International wire transfers of Benin Republic Federal Ministry of Finance.
You are to reply through this my official alternative email address
(federalministryfinance@superposta.com) for security reasons because this is
to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk because the director &
management of the WESTERN UNION MONEY transfer office and some other payment
bank offices have declared to divert your fund to the government treasury
account just because you can not pay the wire transfer fee as they complained.
In reasoning wisely to this complain i told them to wait until i hear from you
today so that i will know the reason why you decide to rejected such amount of
money USD$1.5Million which is your rightful & legal overdue inheritance
payment just because of transfer fee.

The reason why i sent this email to you is because its your sweat and for
this reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if you can
send USD$150.00 today because i have already arranged your wires ready for
its daily wires to you but failing to do this, i will allow them to have
power over your fund and am very sorry if you failed as this is the last chance.

Therefore, send the USD$150 immediately you receive this email today and
email your full name and address to me if you want your USD$1.5Million be
send to you by western union money transfer but the maximum amount officially
allow for it per day day wire to you is USD$7,000.00 per day until you receive
your complete USD$1.5Million from here . The second option is for you to send
me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund be fully
transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your account at once. After
you have sent the USD$150 .00 and email me the mtcn numbers, you are to
indicate your wish to receive your funds as i have stated above and the funds
will be release to you without any hitch.

Here is the western union information in the name of my accountant to avoid
delay in receiving your fund and remember that i have done my best for you and
i will make sure that your wire will begin to be releasing to you from the
moment you sent this USD$150. Send the $150.00 now and send me email with the
western union mtcn numbers when you send the money , you can as well call me
on this number +229-99 710 108. when you have sent the money now OK .

Receivers Name:...OZOEMENA CHRISTIANA IFEOMA.
Pay-Out Country:... Benin-Republic
Pay-Out City : Cotonou.
Address: Sain-Pierre Paul Cotonou, Benin-Republic.
Test Question:.. OUR HOPE
Answer :.. GOD.
Amount to send: ...USD$150.00 Dollars .
SEND MTCN NUMBER....

Send it and email the MTCN control number, amount sent, name and address of
sender to me for easy collection and once again remember to reply through this
my official alternative email address (federalministryfinance@superposta.com)
for security reasons .

Thanks .
Mr. Terry Cool .
Treasury Department, International
Wire transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.
Telephone: +229-99 710 108.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam