419 scam: "Dr. Patrice Talon"<info@reserva.ws> FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Patrice Talon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <worldimfofice09@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 02:57:25 +0200
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN
ADDRESS: PLOT 201 MADELIN 3RD AVENUE COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: PO BOX. 2947# 1ST AVENUNE OPPOSITE TUDE-MOTORS
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
PERSONAL CONTACT CODE: #PT2016

Good Day Dear;

How are you doing together with your family? I hope you are fine and
if so glory be to God almighty in heaven. First of all let me
introduce my self to you, I am Dr. Patrice Talon, the new President of
Benin Republic. I am writing this mail to inform you that after the
meeting held in my office yesterday been Tuesday 19th which consist
between the United States Embassy and the United Nations, African
ECOWAS we have concluded that you will be compensated with all the
money you have lost in the hands of Africans and most especially BENIN
REPUBLIC precisely.

After receiving many complaints that many was scammed through WESTERN
UNION, MONEY GRAM, BANK TRANSFER AND DELIVERY COURIER COMPANIES (atm
cards and consignment packages) including CHAMBERS as well, so I'm
pleading with all scammed citizens that anyone that has been scammed
due to one reason or the other and for anything would be compensated
back and no matter your country or continent, AFRICA, ASIA PACIFIC,
AMERICAN, EUROPEAN, ETC. all scammed person(s) would be compensated
and would be sent their compensation funds.

Furthermore, every client and beneficiaries would be send their
compensation fund sum of of three Million five hundred thousand united
state dollars ($3.5USD) each. And this fund would be sent to you
through ONLINE BANKING TRANSFER OR ATM CARD and it would be sent to
you in form of an executive enveloped sealed letter and there will
nothing like any delivery agent or courier company involved in this,
perhaps, this letter would be sent to you through POST OFFICE and
would be sent directly to your home address and P.O BOX. Therefore,
all beneficiaries is expected to send the below details for fast
procedure and immediate co-operation;

Full Name:
Home Address:
Country:
P.O. Box Address:
Postal Address:
Telephone Number:
Age and Sex:

Finally, all the scammed beneficiaries would be sent this compensation
fund of Three million Five Hundred Thousand united state dollars and
the only money that would be involved in this would be the posting fee
of $65 each and this would be the only money that would be paid by
the beneficiary of the funds and that is all. Moreover, there will be
no C.O.D in this stated method of payment and every beneficiary has
just from now till the 6th of August 2016 to comply and correspond
with this office respectively. Be informed to use this below
information to make the payment of $65:

Receiver's name. . . VIN UZO
Country. . . . Benin Republic
City. . . .Cotonou
Text Question. . . urgent
Text Answer. . . .today
Amount:. . $65
MTCN. . .
Sender:. .

Your urgent and fast response is highly needed and would be highly
appreciated, so as to enable this issue to be settled once and for
all.
His Excellency,
Dr. Patrice Talon
President of Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam