419 scam: ERIC EBELE <"dept."@snow.ocn.ne.jp> Attention And Greetings

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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:
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- treasurydept02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ERIC EBELE <"dept."@snow.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: ERIC EBELE <treasurydept02@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2017 03:40:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention And Greetings

I am Mr. ERIC EBELE, the Chair person in charge of
Treasury Department,International wire transfers of Benin
Republic Federal Ministry of Finance. You are to reply
through this my official email address.
(treasurydept02@gmail.com) because this is to inform you that your fund
was
brought to my desk because the director & management of the
WESTERN UNION &MONEY GRAM transfer have declared to divert your fund to
the government treasury account just because
you can not pay the wire transfer fee. In reasoning wisely
to this complain I told them to wait until I hear from you
today so that I will know the reason why you decide to
reject such amount of money USD$2.5 Million which is your
rightful & legal overdue inheritance payment just because of
transfer fee.

The reason why i sent this email to you is because it is
your sweat and for this reason you still have this last
chance to claim your fund if you can send USD$98.00 today
because i have already arranged your wires ready for its
daily wires to you but failing to do this, i will allow them
to have power over your fund and am very sorry if you failed
as this is the last chance.

Therefore, send the USD$98.00 immediately you receive this
email today and email your full name and address to me if
you want your USD$2.5 Million be send to you by western
union OR Money gram transfer but the maximum amount
officially allow for it per day wire to you is USD$7,500.00
per day until you receive your complete USD$2.5 Million from
here . The second option is for you to send me the full
detail of your bank account if you want your fund be fully
transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your
account at once. After you have send the $98.00 and email me
the mtcn numbers, you are to indicate your wish to receive
your funds as I have stated above and the funds will be
released to you without any hitch.

Here is the money gram information in the name of my
accountant to avoid delay in receiving your fund and
remember that i have done my best for you and i will
make sure that your wire will begin to be released to you
from the moment you sent this $98.00.

Send the $98.00 now and send me email with the money gram
reference numbers when you send the money.

Receivers Name:.....
Pay-Out Country:... Benin
Pay-Out City : Cotonou.
Address: Sian-Pierre Paul Cotonou, Benin
Test Question:..God
Answer :.. Bless.
Amount to send: ...$98.00

SEND MTCN NUMBER....

Send it and email the MTCN control number, amount sent, name
and address of sender to me for easy collection and once
again remember to reply through this my official email
address (treasurydept02@gmail.com)
TAKE NOTE: REPLY ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL:
(treasurydept02@gmail.com)

Thanks.
Mr. ERIC. EBELE
Treasury Department, International
Wire Transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam