419 scam: "Mrs. Helen Blanchard"<postmaster@localhost.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:
- ",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)
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.
- +22968450422 (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.
- bankofficebenin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Helen Blanchard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bankofficebenin@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 00:34:28 -0800
Subject: Attn Beneficiary,

Attn Beneficiary,

We the International Monetary Fund (IMF) European cooperate Office have received all the overdue outstanding payments owed to the following: firms, contractors, inheritance next of kin and lottery beneficiaries that was originated from Africa, Europe, Americans, Asia including Middle East. Among the list are individuals and companies that their unpaid funds have been located to our authorized official paying outlet,

Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part payment of USD1,500,000.00 and has been approved already as concluded by the (IMF) Chapter based on the agreement reached by the European Union and the World Bank Audit Unit and United Nations Policy Maker Unit under World Bank payment constitution and the World Economic Development Forum Annual Meeting held in Spain and Burkina-Faso to erase debt of up to USD3.5billion owed by African banks and other several international banks world wide as it has been backed by one of the main international lenders IMF (International Monetary Fund) through Debt Relief and Settlement Package.

We have appointed Bank of Africa to handle the payment programme therefore contact Bank Of Africa Benin via information listed below;

Contact Person: Boni Sankara
Email: bankofficebenin@gmail.com
Tel: +229 68 450422

Please contact Bank Of Africa with your personal information such as Full Name/Address/City/State/Zip Code/Home and Mobile Phone number and your country.

Regard,
Mrs. Helen Blanchard
IMF West Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam