419 scam: Pamela Shodipo <of1719905@gmail.com> I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR 2016 WITHHELD FUND IN AFRICA HAS<br> BEEN RELEAS

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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:
- "insurance fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "million 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- +22965424934 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Pamela Shodipo <of1719905@gmail.com>
Reply-To: private.bdel@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2023 17:40:50 +0100
Subject: I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR 2016 WITHHELD FUND IN AFRICA HAS
BEEN RELEASED TODAY

UNITED BA

Dear Beneficiary,

I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR 2016 WITHHELD FUND IN AFRICA HAS BEEN
RELEASED TODAY

My name is Mrs Pamela Shodipo, the managing director of the Benin Republic
subsidiary of United Bank for Africa (UBA), I'm writing to let you know
that we have received an instruction from the United Nation by orders of
the Ministry of Finance, Republic of Benin to release your (2016) WRONGFUL
SEIZED Approved payment of US$2Million Dollars via UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD
which you will use to withdraw your US$2 Million Dollars from any ATM
Machine in any part of the world.

I must thank you and assure you that UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD number 5399
4512 3456 7890; has been approved and upgraded in your favour this morning.
The amount upgraded in the ATM CARD is US$2 Million Dollars, (TWO MILLION
UNITED STATE DOLLARS) and your secret pin number is 80##,

Invitation have been extended to you to visit UBA BANK Benin Republic for
collection of your UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER so that you can
activate it by yourself and start withdrawing funds from any ATM Machine in
your country but the amount you can withdraw in a day is $23,000 USD, per
day as we have programmed it.

Alternatively, if you are unable to visit UBA BANK Republic of Benin for
collection of this your UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER in person,
you must therefore apply for the UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER to
be sent to you via our diplomatic courier service at your own expenses by
offsetting the following payments such as;
(1) Shipment fee of the UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD to your address amounting to
US$210.00.
(2) Insurance Coverage of the UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD amounting to
USUS$270.00.

Both payments are the sum of US$480.00 must be paid to enable THE BANK (2)
COURIER DIPLOMATIC OFFICERS to deliver your NEW UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD to
your address to enable you start withdrawing your US$2 Million Dollars from
any ATM machine in any part of the world. The UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD must
be insured so that it can get to you without any problem or diversion, This
is not an illegal transaction or delivery, so we are insured to carry out
huge transaction, If you follow the instructions for settling the shipment
and insurance cost, there will be nothing more left to be done, I will
always email you to give you first update, i will be attending few seminars
and meetings in few days, so i won't be available to discuss, but the RISK
OFFICER is capable to manage all the affairs.

Your email will be directed to Mr Abdel-Razak TENAKAH, the Chief Risk
Officer (Directeur des Risques) chez UBA Benin Republic, so contact the
ATM swift card centre on this phone number +229-65424934, The email is
already directed to Mr Abdel Razak TENAKAH , He will receive the payment
and prepare the ATM CARD for IMMEDIATE DELIVERY TO YOUR ADDRESS UPON YOUR
PAYMENT FOR THE DELIVERY.

And make sure you do forward to them your full information such as.

(1) your full name.
(2) Address where you want them to deliver the card through diplomatic
courier Service (P.O Box not accepted).
(3) Your full name and total amount you are expecting, Instead of losing
your fund.
(4) your direct telephone numbers.
(5) A copy of your international passport.

Please indicate to the card centre the total sum you are expecting and for
your information, you have to stop any further communication with any
institution or office until you receive the Atm card. Note: because of
impostors, we hereby issue you your pin code of conduct tag number, which
is (8081) so you must have to indicate this code when contacting the card
centre. We await your urgent response.

So, if you cannot come to UBA BANK of Republic of Benin for collection of
your UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD, you must therefore kindly go right now To
western union and send this shipment and insurance fee of US$480.00 via
Western Union Money transfer with the details below And write your MTCN
number down and your sender name below down the details

Receiver's Name.. HOSSOU KIKI
Country.. Benin Republic
City.. Cotonou
Text Question..WHEN
Text Answer...NOW
Amount $480.00
MTCN....
Sender...

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the UBA BANK
ATM VISA CARD to you and it will take only 2 days to arrive to your address
to enable you start withdrawing funds that same day from any ATM machine
nearest to you, Our diplomatic officers can also guide you through it for
some few hours before departing.

Thanks for your understanding and patience throughout all these years, we
apologize for the poor performance of our previous staff which has been
corrected by the NEW PRESIDENT and change of new staff and directors. We
will be waiting for your quick reply and the payment information.

This message is coming from.
Foreign Contract Payments
Pamela Shodipo,
The managing director of the Benin Republic subsidiary of United Bank for
Africa (UBA)

Anti-fraud resources:

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