419 scam: Francis Edward <susandawson525@gmail.com> FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.

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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:
- "certificate 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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 states 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22968504859 (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.
- francisedward045@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Francis Edward <susandawson525@gmail.com>
Reply-To: francisedward045@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 09:03:52 -0700
Subject: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
Office of the Ministery of Finance
12 LEKKI PENNINSULA, COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.
TEL: +229-6850-4859 (Hot-Line)
Ref#: FMF/SGH/101/231
Date: 27th April, 2014.

Attn: Dear Beneficiary

The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are here
requested for your information's on how to delivery your package via the
service of BREAKAWAY EXPRESS to avoid paying money to the fraudsters that
is going on through the global as your e-mail address was found among the
list of foreigners that have been lost their contract payment by Benin
Republic Government.

The management and control of all finances of the Government as prescribed
by the constitution of the country is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Finance to handle all foreign area's/debts. We wish to warn you against some
miscreants, hoodlums and touts who go about scamming innocent people by
claiming to be who they are not and thereby tarnishing the image of this
country called Benin Republic.

Please we are advising you to stop any further communication with them as
you are taking a very big risk and if it might interest you to know. His
Excellence President of Federal Republic of Benin, Dr. Yayi Boni has
instructed this Department of Financial Minister to deposit your package
with the service of DHL COURIER OFFICE DELIVERY EXPRESS.

Note: there is a little fee that you are required to pay been DHL courier
security keeping fee and delivery fee together with the insurance
Certificate. The office of the honorable Federal Ministry of Finance has
concluded with the management Director of the Breakaway Express, Dr. Charles
Benedetto, which your package worth sum of $7.2 Million United States
Dollars, will be delivered to you by the DHL courier Diplomat means just as
soon as you can send them the security keeping fee and delivery fee together
with the insurance Certificate. The security keeping fee will you cost you $40
US Dollars, while the Delivery fee together with the insurance Certificate
will cost you the sum of $82 all together is the sum of $122.00USD only.

We are not authorized to deduct the cost from your principle funds due to
the comprehensive insurance cover against loss on transit. Your package will
immediately deliver to your house upon confirmation of the payment
information of the security keeping fee, Delivery fee together with the
Insurance Certificate Fee.

Furthermore, reconfirm your current delivery address to avoid wrong
delivery of your funds such as,

Your full name:
Your country/city:
Your direct telephone number:
Your current delivery address:
Your sex/age:
Your occupation:

Below is the Name of the cashier officer for you to make the payment ready
and get back to us immediately to enable Federal Ministry of Finance to finally
instruct the DHL Courier Express to delivery your package which will be
delivered through their Diplomat in next 24 hours once you forward the payment
details.

Receiver Name:::EZE EMMANUEL
City::::::::::::COTONOU
Country:::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question:: HOW LONG
Answer::::::::: 24 HOURS
Amount::::::::::$122.00USD
MTCN::::::::::::
Sender's Name:::::::

The moment you send out western union Or Money gram details we will be
sending you the contact information's of the DHL EXPRESS COURIER for
the delivery of
your package.

Yours Sincerely,
DR. FRANCIS EDWARD
Minister Of Finance
Federal Republic Of Benin.
Direct Tel:+229-68504859
Email:(francisedward045@gmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam