419 scam: Mrs Susan Leo <ministryoffinance026@gmail.com> Dear Email Owner,

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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. )
- "moneygram" (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 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.
- +22967403221 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- susanleo32@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Susan Leo <ministryoffinance026@gmail.com>
Reply-To: susanleo32@aol.com
Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2021 11:52:40 +0100
Subject: Dear Email Owner,

ATTN ,

I am Mrs susan Leo, the Chair holder in charge of Treasury Department,
International wire transfers of Benin Republic Federal Ministry of
Finance. This is to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk
because the director & management of the WESTERN UNION & MONEYGRAM
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 so that I will know the reason why you decide to reject such
amount of money $3.5Million USD which is your rightful & legal overdue
inheritance payment just because of transfer fee.

The reason why I sent this email to you is because its your sweat and
for this reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if
you can send $35.00 USD 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 I am very sorry if you
failed as this is the last chance.

Therefore, send the $35.00 USD immediately you receive this email
today and email your full name and address to me if you want your
$3.5Million
USD 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
$8,500.00 USD per day until you receive your complete $3.5Million USD
from here. The second option is for you to send me the full detail of
your bank account if you want your fund to be fully transfer by direct
bank to bank wire transfer to your account at once. After you have
sent the $35.00 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 western union or 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 $35.00. Send
the $35.00 now and send me email with the western union MTCN or money
gram reference numbers when you send the money , you can as well call
me on this number +229-67403221 when you have sent the money now okay,

RECEIVER NAME:..........HASSAN BASHIRU
COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY :............... COTONOU .
TEST QUESTION:....IN GOD
TEST ANSWER:......WE TRUST.
AMOUNT ..â€¦â€¦$35.00USD

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
call through this my line +22967403221 Email ( susanleo32@aol.com )

Thanks.
Mrs Susan Leo
Treasury Department, International
Wire Transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.
Telephone: +229-67403221

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam