419 scam: "His Excellency, Lionel Zinsou"<postmaster@winhost.nashirnet.com> Urgent from His Excellency, Lionel Zinsou

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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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22999238147 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "His Excellency, Lionel Zinsou" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lionel.zinsou@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 21:47:41 -0700
Subject: Urgent from His Excellency, Lionel Zinsou

Office of the Presidency
Rue 1132, Constitution Avenue
Zone A1 Central Area
P. M.B 535, Cotonou-Benin,

To your Attention Sir,

I am the Prime Minister of Benin Republic. With reference to my effort to reach you via telephone call, I delighted to inform you that I am the last signatory to your UNRESOLVED fund. This fund supposes to be in your position long ago but you did not follow the normal process by obtaining the TC1 FORM from this office.

Consequently with out the presidential endorsement from the president of this country Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi no body will release your fund to you, that is the problem you have been having with all the people you are following.

Your payment file has been APPROVED authoritatively and the comment status here stated that you are a good person and supposed to receive your payment long ago but know one tell you the truth or the normal step to follow to receive your payment.

Now declare how you will like to receive your fund and arrange on how to obtain TC1-Form from the office of the presidency.
This TC1-Form is to enable the president of Benin Republic Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi endorse your payment file and your payment will be paid with immediate effect via any means of your choice.

Get back to me with your direct mobile phone to enable me proceeds with your payment file.
Meanwhile you are advice to stop any communication from whose ever is contacting you about your fund. Any email you received forward it to me for proper investigation.

Congratulations.

Regards,
His Excellency, Lionel Zinsou
Prime Minister Benin Republic
+229 9923 8147

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam