419 scam: "Federal Ministry Of Finance Benin"<test@theprint.biz> YOUR FIRST PAYMENT

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "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.
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.
- w.unionoffice97@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry Of Finance Benin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.offical247@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2016 08:36:05 +0100
Subject: YOUR FIRST PAYMENT

Welcome to Western Union:
Send Money Worldwide.
FROM THE DESK OF WESTERN UNION REMITTANCE DEPT.
Our Ref: WUMT0XX2/987.
WEBSITE: www.westernunion.com

Attention:
Instructions being given to us by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to release the part of your funds. Upon this instruction and directive, we wish to inform you that an approval for the release of first batch of transfer, in the sum of $950,000 USD had been signed.$5,000.00 USD shall be transferred/paid to you daily until all the $950,000.00 USD is remitted to you.

Here is the western union information to pick up your first $5,000.00usd: but because you have not paid for the Tax Clearance fee which is $57 usd, the Question and Answer can not be given to you. You can track the MTCN on our website. https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=PY

SENDER'S 1ST NAME: EJOH
SENDER’S 2ND NAME: AUSTINE
MTCN:: 0323907348
COUNTRY:: BENIN
AMOUNT: $5,000 USD
TEST: QUESTION:?
TEST ANSWER: ?

So kindly go ahead and send the Tax Clearance fee immediately which is $57 0usd, on this information below

Receiver ====Name: Frank Eze
Country of Receiver:==== Benin Republic
City: ======== Cotonou
Amount: ========$57
Question: ======Able
Answer: =======God
MTCN
I am waiting for your email once you send the fee,

Thanks.
Dr Kelvin Anthony

Send Money Worldwide
Western Union
Welcome to Western
e-mail w.unionoffice97@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam