419 scam: FMF HEAD OFFICE <y3k1000ba.@dune.ocn.ne.jp> FROM FMF HEAD OFFICE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC

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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:
- "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. )
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "million us 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)
- "million 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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (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 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.
- dirfederalministry@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FMF HEAD OFFICE <y3k1000ba.@dune.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "dirfederalministry@gmail.com" <dirfederalministry@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 16:30:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM FMF HEAD OFFICE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC

FROM FMF HEAD OFFICE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
OFFICE ADDRESS 21 GOV ROD CA JACKSON 2 COTONOU BENIN

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Provision of Affidavit of Claim Certificate for Legal Cover/ Protection of
US$5.2 Million Dollars in favor of you. Please let us start by apologizing
to your humble and noble person. This is because your payment file worth
the total sum of us$5.2 Million us dollars has just been brought to my
Desk for cancellation which i have taken my time to look into your payment
File to know why your funds should be canceled and i found out that it was
Because of your inability to secure your Release Approval Order
Certificate (RAOC) that is why they have resolved to have your payment of
$5.2 Million usd dollars canceled. However, due to humanitarian ground and
Sympathy. I do not want your payment canceled. Therefore, i immediately
Called up the president to explain your matter to him as regards your
Payment and he personally called up a meeting which was resolved that all
Payment charges and any payment fee should be reduced to it's barest
Menial in order to enable you afford to pay the fee so that your payment
Will be release to you today.

To this end, it will interest you to know that any fee/charges required
>From you have been reduced to only the sum of $88.00 usd dollars. This
Step is in order to enable you have this only fee paid so that your
Release approval order certificate (RAOC) will procured and acquired in
Other to enable the speedy accelerated transfer of your $5.2 Million usd
Dollars into any bank account of your choice.

Please we want you to know that you have till the end of today to effect
the required payment so we can clear, release and effect the transfer of
your fund worth us$5.2 Million usd dollars in our care to any bank account
of your choice, so we advice you to pay the $88.00 us dollars through the
Money Gram as below: Send the $88.00 us dollars through Money gram only.

Receiver's Name Obum Ben
City : Cotonou Benin Republic
Country : Benin Republic
Question Test: Hope?
Answer: we trust
Amount: $88.00 us dollars only
Sender's Name:......................
MTCN Number:......................

We want you to know that we are indeed very sorry for any
Inconveniences. Please, be advised to comply to the above demonstration
and then your fund will release to your bank account within 30 minus after
The receipt of the required fee $88 today.

You will never ever regret paying the fee, this is a promise to you after
all your pains in the past as we are here to serve you as our word always
our bonds.

Confirm the receipt of this e-mail immediately and be rest assured that
you will be smiling to your bank once you comply with the above directives
Now. Your urgent response to this e-mail will go a long way in helping us
Ensure your payment is released to you within 24 hours of you acting as
Instructed.

Looking forward for your immediate response today.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Benjamin Frank
Director Federal ministry of finance.
Resident Representative in Benin Republic.
(dirfederalministry@gmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam