419 scam: "Mrs.Mary Wedder" <monitoryfunds@superposta.com> ATTN, BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "info@lawchambers.at.tc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22964337796 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Mary Wedder" <monitoryfunds@superposta.com>
Reply-To: info@lawchambers.at.tc
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 10:48:48 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: ATTN, BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND

Good Day Dear Beneficiary,

How are you?Hope all is well with you and your family? I know that you
might have forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake
on the

delivery up till now.I am writing to inform you that your file was found
in our office today and we discovered that your cheque of $3.7 Million
united state

dollars have not been sent to you as it was instructed by Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay,Please bear with us
because the fault is from our former secretary who did not complete the
instruction

giving by our Boss.My dear,Note that your cheque has been converted into
Master ATM Card to freeit from Expiring,We are hereby informing you that
all the

necessary arrangement for your ATM MASTER CARD Payment worth of
$3.7Million United State Dollars has been granted for your payment last
week.

Note that Your Master ATM Card is well packaged with every legal document
to convey it without having any problem with any Authorities or with your
Federal

Government so we are here by inviting you to our office so that we can
complete the normal formalities and activation process of your ATM CARD
and issue the

Secret pin code number to enable you make withdrawal at any ATM MACHINE of
your choice nearest to you,as soon as it is activated.But if you cannot be
able to

come down here in our office in person,Bear with to bring to your notice
that you are going to pay for the Courier delivery charges and activation
fee of

your ATM MASTER CARD,so if you are unable to come down here then you are
required to update them with your contact details as stated below so that
they will

proceed with the necessary arrangement for the delivery of your ATM MASTER
CARD.

1. Your Full name, ________________
2. Your home Address, ______________
3. Your telephone number, ______
4. A copy of your ID, _____________
5. Your age/sex, ____________________
6. Your occupation, __________________
7. Your country, ____________________

Hereby you are advised to contact OUR ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTER
Immediately on their below E- mail:(info@lawchambers.at.tc) Contact
Person.John

Tanko Tele Phone Number; +229-64337796 Try to call him immediately to know
when your ATM CARD will be delivered to you. I am waiting for you to
update us as

soon as you have received your Master ATM Card.

Thanks and God Bless You.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Mary Wedder ,
Department Director Vital Finance Republic Of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam