419 scam: FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE <officemoney995@gmail.com> FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN

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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:
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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 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.
- rajijohnson61@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE <officemoney995@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.rajijohnson09@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2014 23:00:13 +0100
Subject: FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN

*FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN*
*MINISTRY OF FINANCE*
*ECONOMIC AND DEBT REFORM DEPARTMENT.*
*WORLD BANK READ,* *COTONOU ,BENIN REPUBLIC*
*(Civil Procedure)*
*
(F.H.C.B)*

*( ARRANGEMENT)*

*Why are you decided to make yourself a looser of this fund by refusing to
pay the 109 dollars for the renewal of your transfer file,Be rest assure
that as soon you send the $109.00usd they must start transferring of your
fund through Western Union within 2hrs after confirmation of* *the fee
without any further delay and this is the only fee you have to pay in this
transaction as it was written down already by the Federal government of
this country that mapped out the compensation for you OK.*

*be inform that the amount you will be receiving each day is $5,000.00usd
once you send the $109.00usd for the renewal of your transfer file,*
*However,You are therefore advice to Contact the General Manager of Western
union Department, Benin Republic ( Mr.Raji Johnson ) through below email
address:*

*Kindly notify us or your nearest F.B.I office after 2hours you did not
received your first payment of $5,000.00 from *

*Mr.Raji Johnson OK. *
*Send it to bellow information via western union or money gram:*

* Receiver name::::::::::::::::::::Emmanuel Ekwealrv*

*Address::::::::::::::::::::::: Cotonou-Benin Republic. Text
question::::::::::::::::::: In God.Answer::::::::::::::::::::: We
trust.MTCN::::::::::::::::Sender's Name::::::::::::*
*Sender's Address::::*

*I will be waiting on* *your urgent feedback with the MTCN of the $109.00
thanks.*
*and send him your Fund Release Pin R1209I so that he will transfer
your fund to you immediately they receive the $109 from you.*

*Thanks and accept our congratulations.*

*Reply to**:rajijohnson61@yahoo.com*
*Mr. Raji Johnson*
*From Minister Of Finance,*
*Federal Republic of Benin.*
*Telephone **+229 61139194*
*FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam