419 scam: Mr Ben Bruce <www.@train.ocn.ne.jp> TEXT OR CALL +1(202) 858-4766

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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.
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.
- usembassy63@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Ben Bruce <www.@train.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Ben Bruce <usembassy63@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 00:37:37 +0900 (JST)
Subject: TEXT OR CALL +1(202) 858-4766

Signed: Hon. James Knight. Public Relation Officer United States Ambassador In Benin Republic. Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive Central District Area, Benin Republic. E-mail: usembassy63@gmail.com

Good Day ,

This is u.s representative in Benin Republic west Africa. I shall be coming to state for an official meeting on this week and I will be bringing your package worth your $10.8m which has been in Benin republic undelivered for a very long time now due to one reason or the other But this time i will not go through customs or immigration because as an ambassador to Benin , am us govt. agent and senior citizen and i have the veto power to go through customs. As soon as am through with the meeting once I arrived with your package i will then proceed to your address and hand over your package to you.

You have really paid so much in this delivery that makes me wonder. You are a very lucky person because I shall be bringing it myself and there is nothing anyone can do about it to stop me due to my position!

YOUR PACKAGE WORTH ($10.8) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL FAMILY TREASURE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $199 DOLLARS ONLY THE FEE MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE NEXT 2 DAYS VIA MONEY- GRAM ONLY SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST ME.

SEND THE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY-GRAM ONLY OK;

Receivers name...... ERIC Faro
Country...............Benin Republic
City....................Cotonou
Tq.....................Final
Ta.....................Final
Amt................$199.00usd

Send the MTCN and other payment details once you send the $199.00usdonly. AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE
DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.

This message contains information about the bilateral relationship between the United States of America and the Republic of Benin as well as foreign policy, economic affairs, domestic issues, and U.S. society and values. Led by the Ambassador, the U.S. Mission works to foster a
friendly relationship between the U.S. and Benin for the benefit of both countries.

Mr Ben Bruce,
(Ambassador of the United States to Benin Ambassadeur des Etats-Unis au BÃ©nin)
E-mail: E-mail: usembassy63@gmail.com
TEXT OR CALL +1(202) 858-4766

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam