419 scam: "Mr. Ben Walker" <edthompsoninyang@gmail.com> FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF 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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- +22966519968 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben Walker" <edthompsoninyang@gmail.com>
Reply-To: careteam1@e-mail.ua
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 15:14:56 -0500
Subject: FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

ECONOMIC AND DEBT REFORM DEPARTMENT.

WORLD BANK READ, COTONOU ,BENIN REPUBLIC
(Civil Procedure)

(F.H.C.B)

( ARRANGEMENT)

Why are you decided to make yourself a looser of this fund
by refusing to pay the 109 dollars for the renewal of your
transfer file,Be rest assure that as soon you send the
$109.00usd they must start transferring of your fund through
Western Union within 2hrs after confirmation of the fee
without any further delay and this is the only fee you have
to pay in this transaction as it was written down already by
the Federal government of this country that mapped out the
compensation for you OK.

be inform that the amount you will be receiving each day is
$5,000.00usd once you send the $109.00usd for the renewal
of your transfer file,

However,You are therefore advice to Contact the General
Manager of Western union Department, Benin Republic (
Mr.Johnson Smith ) through below email address:

Kindly notify us or your nearest F.B.I office after 2hours
you did not received your first payment of $5,000.00 from
Mr.Johnson Smith OK.

Send it to bellow information via western union or money gram:

Receiver name::::::::::::::::::::MARCEL OWURAH
Address::::::::::::::::::::::: Cotonou-Benin Republic.
Text question::::::::::::::::::: In God.
Answer::::::::::::::::::::: We trust.
MTCN::::::::::::::::
Sender's Name::::::::::::

Sender's Address::::

I will be waiting on your urgent feedback with the MTCN of
the $109.00 thanks.

and send him your Fund Release Pin R1209I so that he will
transfer your fund to you immediately they receive the $109
from you.

Thanks and accept our congratulations.

Reply to careteam1@e-mail.ua
Mr. Ben Walker
>From Minister Of Finance,

Federal Republic of Benin.
Telephone +229 66519968

FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam