419 scam: " ALERT101"<reservebankbeninbranch@gmail.com> Reserve Bank of Benin ( CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP ALERT101?) URGENT REPLY

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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- +2348020754130 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: " ALERT101" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <reservebankbeninbranche@zing.vn>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:40:53 +0100
Subject: Reserve Bank of Benin ( CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP ALERT101?) URGENT REPLY

Reserve Bank of Benin
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
Chief General Manager Customer Service Department

Worldwide Calling Phone: +234 8020 754130

ATTENTION:

This is to notify you that your fund has been approved for release to you via Hsbc Bank Transfer.Kindly reconfirm this application put in by Mrs.Jeanna White - she submitted the under listed bank account information supposedly sent by you to receive the funds on your behalf.

The bank information she applied with are stated thus:

Account Name: Jeanna White
Bank name: Citi Bank NA
Bank address: #1230 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USAictimize anybody

Account Number: 016503809428
Routing Number: 2779210
Swift Code: CITIUS22

We wish to verify from you if this woman was authorized to receive the fund son your behalf, to ensure that the paying bank will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong hands/account.

The committee on overdue transfer funds has approved HSBC BANK UNITED KINGDOM through the international remittance/foreign operations, to transfer all overdue funds this quarter of the year.

However, if we do not receive any formal reconfirmation from you, it automatically means that she was actually sent by you, to receive the said Fund. Hence, you are hereby requested to reply this mail immediately for confirmation, before we proceed with this payment and for us to know the true position of things with you so that we won't make any mistakes/errors in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.

Lastly, you are advice to reconfirm the details of this message and get back immediately with these information's below so as to enable us cross check with the one we have to ensure no mistake in process of transfer.

PLEASE FOR YOUR INFORMATION IF YOUR NOT READY TO SEND THE FEE WE CAN PROCEED WITH HER BECAUSE SHE IS READY TO PAY ALL THE NEEDED FEE INVOLVE IN THIS TRANSFER? WHY CAN YOU NOT SEND THE FEE FOR LONG TIME NOW, PLEASE WHERE NOT READY TO CONTACT YOU AGAIN FOR THIS FUND, WE CAN PROCEED WITH PEOPLE THAT KNOWS WHAT IS TRANSFER IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE YOU DON'T FOLLOW UP OR MY ADVISE

Note: This information's must be provided for reconfirmation to enable us make payment to you, hence, your funds will be remit/wire into her account.

Best regards,

REGARDS,
MR IKE NNA
Reserve Bank of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam