419 scam: UNITED NATIONS <untiednations2802@hotmail.com> PAYMENT OFFICE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.

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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:
- "account opening" (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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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. )
- "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.
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.
- +22999159470 (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.
- diamondbnkonline11@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED NATIONS <untiednations2802@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: untiednations280@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 12:59:44 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PAYMENT OFFICE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.

WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT
UNIT

Our Ref: WEB/NF/UN/XX027

RE:IRREVOCABLE
RELEASE OF YOUR
PAYMENT

Good Day to you:

Your E-mail is well received, We have actually been authorized by the presidency,
Federal Republic of Benin and the Governing board
Central bank of Republic of Benin to investigate the
unnecessary delay of your payment, recommended and approve your claims for
payment if your Cheque Draft is genuine.

During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay
that your payment has been unnecessarily delayed by corrupt officials of the
Bankers who are trying to divert your money into their private accounts, to
forestall this, security for your funds was organized in the form of your
personal transfer of US$4.500,000.00USD. Four Millions and Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars.

I receive your mail this afternoon and I have contacted our paying
bank Diamond Bank Plc - Benin Republic for transferring of your fund which was deposited to their bank on
your behalf, Inquiries how your money will be transferred directly to your
account as you requested which i feel is safer and i was informed by our paying
bank in Cotonou that you will have to Open a Non Residential bank account where
the money (US$4,500,000.00) on your name will be deposited before the money can
be transferred to your account.

The bank director said that you will have
to open an Non Residential account and also you will have to send your direct
telephone number, and also your details information to the bank for opening of
the new account in your name.

You should endeavor to send the
requirements so they can conclude with the account opening as the bank informed
me that once the account is opened and the draft deposited in your name, it will
take only 48 hours to transfer the money to your account world wide through
telegraphic swift transfer to your own account.

You should endeavor to
send these requirements you sent to me to Diamond
Bank Benin soon for the transfer of your funds and i
will give you the bank contact Information's so that you can reach them by
yourself to find out the situation of things on how your money can be transferred
to your account immediately.

CONTACT DIAMOND
BANK PLC BENIN WITH THE INFORMATION'S BELOW FOR URGENT TRANSFER OF
YOUR FUND US$4,500.000, USD.



MR. PAUL C. PATRICK.
The Director of Foreign Remittance
Diamond
Bank Plc -Cotonou Benin Republic.

Address: 20/22 Hospital Route Cotonou Benin
Tel:
+229-9915-9470 Customer Care

E-mail
address ( diamondbnkonline11@hotmail.com )

Have a nice day and i am hoping to hear from you soon, once you have
reached the bank.



THANKS,



DR/MR. ADAM MIKE,
WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMMED

PAYMENT OFFICE COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam