419 scam: Dr Eddy Benson <eddy17@hggddss.jp.tn> Your Money Gram Transfer Ref no is ready Today

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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)
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22998206775 (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.
- moneygramtransf002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Eddy Benson <eddy17@hggddss.jp.tn>
Reply-To: <moneygramtransf002@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:29:43 -0700
Subject: Your Money Gram Transfer Ref no is ready Today

>From the Desk of Dr..Eddy Benson,
Operational Director General
Foreign Payment Officer
Tel: +229-98206775

Attention: Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you that after today's Federal Executive Consul Meeting with Chief Judge of this Country, The ministry of Finance Benin Republic has approved that your fund of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand ($980,000.00) which was initial approved that western union will be paying to you $5000 us dollars on daily basis until your ($980,000.00) is completed, It has come to the notice of the newly appointed Minister that western union department wanted to RIP you off as a result of so much fees they are demanding from you and some of their staff were into fraudulent act therefore Federal Executive Consul Meeting (FEC) Has now ORDERED that your total fund ($980,000.00) will now be paid to you through Money Gram Money Transfer head office Republic of Benin,

Because we are aware that western union department requested about $136 us dollars more from you for them to use and re-activate your Payment File which has been dormant, But, it has now been approved that you will only send the sum of $36.00 us dollars for the re-activation, The minister of finance was unhappy when he come across your payment file, He ordered that instead of the initial demand which was $136, He now ordered that you will pay only $36.00 us dollars for the re-activation of your fund because he does not want your fund to still be in the country without it been transferred, So I would like you to act fast and send the $36.00 us dollars immediately after you receive this email, Remember that this is the only way you will claim your Money without any problem,

So you are been advise to send the re-activation fee of $36.00 us dollars to this below information,I want to assure that once you send the fee Today, You will start receiving your $5000 us dollars daily through Money Gram from Tomorrow morning,

Here is the information where to send the activation fee $36.00

RECEIVER NAME--EMMA AGUA
COUNTRY------BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY--------------COTONOU
QUESTION-----TRUST?
ANSWER-------IN GOD
AMOUNT--------$36.00

Contact Email:[moneygramtransf002@gmail.com]

Thanks,
DR..EDDY BENSON
Director Foreign Remittance Department
MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam