419 scam: Kanneth Johnson <kmeraatens@bigpond.com> Spam : Dear: Unpaid Beneficiary,

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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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "cost of transfer" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "you have to be fast" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- +22999529513 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Kanneth Johnson <kmeraatens@bigpond.com>
Reply-To: <kanneth_johnson@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 05 May 2016 11:27:03 +0200
Subject: Spam : Dear: Unpaid Beneficiary,

--
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division

Dear: Unpaid Beneficiary,

With due respect, I write to bring to your notice that I came to BENIN
few
days ago from USA, after series of complains from the FBI and other
Security agencies from Asia, Europe, and the United States of America
respectively against the Federal Government of BENIN and the British
Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two
nations.I
have met with President of BENIN who claimed that he has been trying
his
best to make sure you receive your fund in your account. Right now, as
directed by The United States FBI, We are working in collaborations
with
the BENIN international monitoring fund (IMF) and have decided to waive
away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of
BENIN
to effect your compensation payment of TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARS, ($10.500.000) approved by both the British
government and the United Nations into your account without any
hesitation.

The only fee you will pay to confirm your ($10.500.000) compensation
fund
in your Bank Account is only COST OF TRANSFER fee which is US$89.00 usd
Dollars to the United Nations.Sincerely,you are a lucky person because
I
have just discovered that some top Benin Government Officials are
interested in your fund and they are working with One MR Richard
Graves,
from USA to frustrate you and divert your fund into their personal
account.

Once again, all you will pay to receive your compensation payment of
($10.500.000) in your bank account is US$89.00 dollars only. We are so
sure
of everything and we are giving you a 100% money back guarantee if you
do
not receive payment/package within the next 24hours after you have made
the
payment of $89.00 for COST OF TRANSFER.

BELOW IS THE APPROVED INFORMATION TO SEND THE $89.00 USD AND BE ASSURED
THAT YOU WILL CONFIRM YOUR FUNDS IN YOUR ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY.

Receiver's Name: JAMES EZE
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Text Question: OK,
Text Answer: YES.
Amount: $89.00.USD
MTCN Number.......

Send the payment details along with your home address, phone number and
your Banking information to enable us transfer the said funds in to
your
designated bank account without any hesitation. Please you have to be
fast
on this matter so that we can get this transaction done as urgent as
possible.

Get Back To Me With Your Bank Information,
Full Names:
Country:
Direct Phone Number:
Bank Name:
Bank Account Number:
Routing Number:

I have a very limited time to stay in benin here so I would like you to
urgently respond to this message because FBI instructed me to make sure
that you confirm your compensation fund of TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS, ($10.500.000) in your account before I
return back to USA. You can call me here for more
verification +229 99529513

We sincerely apologies for the inconveniences you encountered in
receiving
your funds in the past.

Sincerely yours,

Kanneth Johnson
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight
Phone: +229 99529513

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam