419 scam: "Mr. Godwin Prosper" Greetings to you,

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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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Godwin Prosper"
Reply-To: <filec44@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2024 02:43:58 +0800
Subject: Greetings to you,

Greetings to you,

This is Mr. Godwin Prosper From Ministry of finance Benin Republic, I
was appointed as the chairman of Ministry of finance Three weeks ago,
When I resume office I went through outstanding payment Files both
foreign and local payment which are due to the people concerned and to
my greatest surprise your payment fill is still showing not completed
pay out,

In my further investigation I found out that you are having some
difficult and challenge to get your promised Funds due to one reason and
others, I have reached out to the bank concerned and the proof of your
Funds has been send to my desk as I speak to you now

Note: am sincerely apologies for the inconveniences and delay this
transaction might have caused you but am here to correct the whole
Mistake,I will only need your attention at this point because I will
secure a new release order documents in your name before I will fix the
problem of your ATM and then send you a new card with pin and the total
amount has to be loaded in the card, Please kindly get back to me for
the better solution on getting your Funds through this time around,
Remember new release order documents must be obtain before i will
proceed with this and that will only cost you one time payment of $99
only,

Note: in case you have changed your address of living kindly reconfirm
your new address to me via my email address below

(1)Your Full name:...............
(2)Your Phone number..............
(3)Your Contact address:.................

I will wait for your response as soon as you receive this message

Thanks and best regards

Mr. Godwin Prosper
From Ministry of finance Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam