419 scam: "Jean-Francis Zinsou" <file-6-8@msn.com> Attn; Beneficiary

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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
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.
- +22999691328 (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.
- skyservice@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Jean-Francis Zinsou" <file-6-8@msn.com>
Reply-To: office-file@atoo.fr
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 00:35:25 +0300 (EAT)
Subject: Attn; Beneficiary

Attn; Beneficiary

Greetings Dear, The UNITED NATIONS IN Affiliation with HSBC BANK have
agreed to compensate you with the sum of US$1,200,000.00, for self
support. This is regarding the draws we organized few days ago here in
our office to help individual town and Unemployment Benefits also to
help the less privileged children.

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract, inheritance sum, and people that have had an unfinished
transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government
problems and the World financial Crisis etc. We found your name in the
list of those who are to benefit from this compensation exercise and that
is why we are contacting you.

We are contacting you to let you know that A BANK DRAFT worth $1.2 US
Dollars in your name for your compensation has been approved by United
Nation here in Benin the necessary arrangement of delivering the BANK
DRAFT has been made with SKY COURIER/SECURITY COMPANY Benin Republic. We
did it this way so that it will be easy for you to receive your Fund.

Contact them with Your Full Receiving Information such as....
Your Name,Address, Phone number/ID Card

Contact Person:
Dr.Obi Ginter
E-mail:(skyservice@superposta.com)
Phone +229-9969-1328
Registration Reference No of the Package FDXB/xxx/100
Code Number:xxxKP/229B

Yours Faithfully,
Jean-Francis .R. Zinsou
Permanent Representative to the United Nations

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam