419 scam: Paul Smith" <testuser@unum.fineoscloud.com> COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON!!

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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.
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.
- +22996509261 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Smith" <testuser@unum.fineoscloud.com>
Reply-To: mmpaulsmith145@frontier.com
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2018 00:22:27 -0800
Subject: COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON!!

Attention please!

I am Paul Smith. An accountant on Computer IT with UBA Bank Benin Republic. I am 35 years old, I just started working with UBA BANK few weeks ago & I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and documents to get this fund released but the fund has not been release to you and the most annoying thing is that they cannot tell you the honest truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they let you spend money unnecessarily for nothing but fake story. I learnt you also have UBA card that was issued and sent to your possession but card was never activated, I can do the activation for you if you work with me, hope the card is not expired yet?.

I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security, and how I can run away from this country if I do this, because if I don't run away from this country after i made the transfer release, I will be seriously in trouble and my life will be in danger. Please this is like a Mafia setting in Benin Republic, you may not understand it because you are not here in Benin to witness the processing of your funds.

The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISK of which we it "HD120 GIG" I will buy two of it, then recopy your information & destroy the previous one on file, punch the computer to reflect in your card or bank acc within 24 hours. I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file, after which I will run away from Benin to meet with you over there in your Country or you may send me my percentage, Please If you are interested do reply me back urgent for immediate action' But if you are not please don't reply.

Do get in touch with me immediately & You should send to me your convenient tell/fax numbers for easy communications and also re-confirm your banking details, so that there won't be any mistake. For phone conversation please call me on +229 96509261 .

Regards,
Paul Smith
My Phone Number +229 96509261

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam