419 scam: "Charles Howard"<info@temakonfeksiyon.com> Attn Sole Beneficiary of $4.5m

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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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "stamp duty charges" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "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.
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.
- +22968551212 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Howard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charleshoward@foxmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2016 08:54:57 -0800
Subject: Attn Sole Beneficiary of $4.5m

Attn Legal Beneficiary of $4.5m;

The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of US $4.5million after the meeting held on 20th of January, 2016.
His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your funds through our POST OFFICE because of our ELECTION will take place lastly by Monday next week and New PRESIDENT will come up, for easy receive of your inheritance funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through internet now ,You are required to send your name and address Where you want your fund to be send to you through post office,

This is not one of those Nigerian/African scams that all they are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you will not receive your funds, but note that this is no scam and is directly from the Management of money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and our Motto is To Serve You Better So send us your details information from you to process your payment:

But note that you will send to them any amount that you have as from $100.00 to amount that you can afford so that you can have your bank draft cheque post out today,

Meanwhile here is the information that you will use to send the any amount that you can afford so that you can pick up your check in any post office in you country. Remember that you will send the fee through Money Gram with this information below.

Receiver’s name,,, Mr JOHNSON NNA
Country,,, Benin Republic,
City,,,, Cotonou,
Text Question,,,,, In God?
Answer,,,, We Trust,
Amount,,,$100 usd,
Mtcn 8 digit control number,
Sender's name,

Note that this is for their stamp duty charges fee ok. Send your information to MR. Charles Howard of POST OFFICE in Cotonou Benin Republic. And He will payout your bank draft cheque after you send to him the amount that you can afford from $100 usd ,Please give him your current tale phone number for easy communication.
Receiver name--------------
Country-----------------------
City....MISSION................
Test question...............
Answer...................
Tel phone----------------------
Age..........................
For further procedure Contact our payment officer with the information below;

Thanks
Your Best Regard
Mr. Charles Howard
Phone +229 68551212

Try to fill the Above Information’s where they will be sending you your money and also call Mr Charles Howard as soon as you send the information to them,
Your faithfully
Office File

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