419 scam: "OFFICE FILE" <officefileas@yahoo.com> UNITED STATE PARCEL SERVICE BENIN

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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:

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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22999441700 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE FILE" <officefileas@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: upscompan@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:41:45 -0500
Subject: UNITED STATE PARCEL SERVICE BENIN

Attn BenficiaryI,AM, Dr Ike John , the Driector of Credit Bank Benin Republic. This is tobring to your notice that, I, have paid the fee of your ATM CARD, because theATM-card worth $2.4,M USD has less a month to expire and when it expires themoney will go into Government reserve. With that I decided to help you pay themoney so that the ATM CARD will not expire,because, I know when you get yourATM CARD definitely you must compensate me.Now, your ATM CARD has been deposited with ups Courier for delivery direct toyour doorstep..therefore, I, want you to contact ups Courier Company with yourFull Contact informations, so that they can deliver your ATM CARD to yourdesignated address without any delay. Like I, stated earlier,The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keepingfees since they refused. because, the Reasons they refusal is that they do notknow when you will contact them. As of now, I, deposited it on 29th November2011 therefore, try to contact t!
hem immedaitly to aviod any increase thesecuritye keeping fee ok.Below is their Contact Informations,Contact Person: Dr Michelle Godwin UPS Courier CompanyEmail: upscompan@yahoo.com.hkTel: +22999441700let me know immediately you rececived your atm card.Yours Sincerly ,REV Ike John

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam