419 scam: "Rev. Michael Towers" SCAMMED VICTIMS BENEFICIARIES COMPENSATION PAYMENTS

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- +22996527319 (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.
- rev.michaeltowers.wdrc2015@representative.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev. Michael Towers"
Reply-To: <rev.michaeltowers.wdrc2015@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:18:44 +0100
Subject: SCAMMED VICTIMS BENEFICIARIES COMPENSATION PAYMENTS

>From the desk of; Rev. Michael Towers
President, World Debt Reconciliation Committee
International Investigations Panels and Anti-Fraud Unit,
Financial Services Committee Regulation and
Scammed Victims Beneficiaries Compensation Payments
Cotonou, Benin Republic, West Africa.
Tel: +229-965-273-19

SCAMMED VICTIMS BENEFICIARIES COMPENSATION PAYMENTS.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 068454 ( USD $1,750,000.00 ) UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY.

Attention Please; Scam Victim,

This is to bring to your notice that we are delegation/delegated from the United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Auditors, European Union (EU), United States, United Kingdom with other world powers to pay 173 scammed victims the sum of ( USD $1,750,000.00 = One Million Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ) each. You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount because the arrested perpetrators of the scams has mentioned your name and email address as one of their victims and you are listed to be part who will benefits the compensations.

We arrived here in Cotonou, Benin Republic last week Thursday from United Kingdom, United States and other parts of the world as appointed and constituted to offset and pay all outstanding foreign payments ourselves in order to eradicate and stop the scam practice going on around here in West Africa today. The re-scheduling of your payment through our committee was a result of several petitions we received from different individuals and companies from all parts of the world against West African corrupted top government legislators, government/private Banks and Courier Companies officials using their positions in their different offices to extort money from their foreign contractors, inheritors, award winning and other beneficiaries like you, still at the end of the day may end up diverting the approved funds into their private over-seas account.

However, I've gone through your payment file here on my table and had confirmed that you have been officially cleared for payment by the Verification Department at the Headquarters of United Nations New York and World Bank Switzerland therefore, we will authorize our paying Bank to release your fund immediately you secure and obtain a sworn Affidavit of claim from High Court of Justice here in Cotonou, Benin Republic to authenticate and validate your claim.

We have two payment centers world wide in United States and United Kingdom that you can receive your fund from depending on where you choose and all that is required from you is any valid form of your identification and us$217 to secure your Affidavit of Claim from Ministry of Justice and you will choose out of the options on how you wish to receive your fund, by Bank to Bank transfer, ATM Card Delivering and Bank Booklet for withdrawals or Online Banking Transfer from any of our paying points.

Call me on; +229-965-273-19 for more clarifications about the process as it will take less than 48 hours for you to confirm your approved fund without delays on getting back to us.

Thanks for your understanding and co-operations.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Michael Towers
President/Chairman, World Debt Reconciliation Committee
International Investigations Panels and Anti-Fraud Unit,
Financial Services Committee Regulation and
Scammed Victims Beneficiaries Compensation Payments
Cotonou, Benin Republic, West Africa.
Tel: +229-965-273-19
E-mail: rev.michaeltowers.wdrc2015@representative.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam