Felix Hessou, Republique du Benin, West Africa

[Dennis]

This seems to be a sequel to the Nigerian scams which are so prevelent today. I received this E-Mail from Director or Planning, Minstry of Defence, Benin.
Quote
From: Felix Hessou [mailto:felixhessou4439@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 4:31 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: WITH TRUST

Dear Trusted Partner,

Everything that happens to one has spiritual significance. I was just leafing through the profiles of listed names in the internet before I came through your name. Though, the internet has been grossly abused by scam artist and miscreants whose intention is to hurt. In as much as one should be careful, same time we should not allow negative to kill the positive potential in a good business. I have chosen to reach you because I felt that business is taking risk, going from the known to the unknown.

My name is Felix Hessou the director of planning in the Ministry of National Defence, Republique du Benin. I have worked as a director in the Ministry since 1995. In 1996, The U.S.-Benin Joint Military Commission began two days of meetings to discuss continuing military cooperation between the United States and Benin . This was the fourth annual meeting of the commission, which was formed in July 1996 during bilateral discussions in Washington .
The inaugural session was conducted in Cotonou , Benin , in January 1996. Since that time, the United States and Benin have conducted a series of military cooperation programs, including joint exercises, education and training for Beninois officers, and the provision of medical training and humanitarian assistance. The goal of these cooperative efforts has been to develop the professionalism and technical expertise of Benin 's military and help it adapt to its new role in a democratic, civil society.

Minister of Defense Pierre Osho leads the Beninese delegation. The delegation also includes the Beninese Ambassador to the United States, Lucien Edgar Tonoukouin; Col. Felicien dos Santos, Chief of Joint Staff; Col. Pancrace Brathier, deputy chief of the National Gendarmarie; Col. Felix Hessou, director of planning, Ministry of National Defense; and Lt. Col. Jean Kouagou N'Pina, deputy chief of the Army Staff.

The U.S. delegation is headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Bernd McConnell and includes representatives from the Joint Staff, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and U.S. European Command. The U.S. Ambassador to Benin , Robert C. Felder, also serves as a member of the delegation.

After the meeting the US government provided assistance for procurement of arms and security provision for the Benin Government. I was instructed by the President to negotiate and formalize the provisions of the above necessities. So I made and sealed the deal with American Western Arms (AWA-USA, Inc.) while I over invoiced the receipts. Part of the supply value was paid. Now the new President of Benin, Yayi Boni wish to settle all debts owe the suppliers and I wish to use this opportunity for the settlement of the over invoiced receipts. I want to present you as part of the people owe by my department so that the supply sum will be paid to you to be shared as will be agreed between us.

There is no string attached and no risk on your side hence I have legitimately worked out the entire plan successfully. I will send you details and the amount involved upon your response. You are also obliged to send me your phone number so that I can call you to discuss further details regarding this venture. I am a man of my word and you will never regret any assistance rendered from your side for when you are the service of your fellow human you are at the service of your God.Plz contact me at my private mail: felixhessou4@myway.com

My regards,

Felix Hessou.
Unquote
Republique du Benin is a next door neighbor to Nigeria to the north. The amount turns out to be roughly $27,000,000 dollars. He offered me 40% for assisting him. I also noticed he is using a hotmail address. This is something a representative of a foreign government supposedly never does.

Gotcha. Delete, Delete, Delete

[Dennis]

Well whaddya know. This is an e-mail I received from Felix Hessou's attorney. Quote
From: CABINET SAIDOU AGBANTOU ESQ [mailto:cabinet_saidou_agbantouesq@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 9:10 AM
To: xxxx xxxxx.com
Subject: Follow this instruction and get back to me

Attention:xxxx xxxxxx.

Sir,

Your request to this law chambers is hereby acknowledged.

I have received the requirements that will enable this Law Chambers to carry out the legal assignment.

This Law Chambers shall carry out her assigned legal obligation on your behalf in accordance with Article 105, section 36; sub-section IV of the 1999 Financial and allied matters Act of the Constitution of Benin.

This Law Chambers has visited the Ministry of Defence to cross-check files with the Administration Department so as to determine the authenticity of your claim. All records were verified accurately. Therefore, I have collected the Payment Processing Form M from the Ministry to enable us work on your behalf. You are requested to fill the form and send it back to this Law Chambers immediately. You should download the form, print it, fill it, scan it, attaché it and send to this email address. If you do not know how to do this, then send us the information requested in the form in there order of request, so that we can do that for you.

Upon the receipt of the above this law chambers will work inline with your instruction to carry out the legal obligation to enable the transfer of your contract sum to your nominated account.

Thank you for contacting this law chambers for this legal obligation.

Yours Sincerely,
Saidou Agbantou Esq
PRINCIPAL
Unquote

There is an attachment which turns out to be a graphic file. It looks like they scanned a "contractor form". If I fail to reply I am confident I will hear more from these guys from Benin. Stay Tuned.

<<< Mod edit recipients name and email removed for safety D M Y >>>

[Gentle Giant]

Oh this looks like a fun little scam. It is a scam for many reasons. (and Benin is actually directly west of Nigeria.)

1. As Dennis points out, this government official, Felix Hessou, is using a hotmail account. He asks you to reply to a myway account, also a free email server. The use of 2 free emails accounts in any email always means scam.
2. In addition, the lawyer, Saidou Agbantou Esq, also uses a free email account, yahoo.com.
3. This is one of the scam formats which brings in a lawyer to make things look official. In fact Felix Hessou and Saidou Agbantou are probably the same person.
4. The individuals mentioned in the email may actually be real people in the job positions mentioned, but they have absolutely nothing to do with this scam. They probably don't know their names are being used in a scam format.
5. "the internet has been grossly abused by scam artist and miscreants whose intention is to hurt" is probably the only true statement in this whole thing.
6. "I over invoiced the receipts" is another way to say "I stole money", in this case from the arms company. If this thing were real what Felix is proposing to you would be illegal, both in Benin and in your country making you liable to potential arrest. Fortunately for you it's only a scam. As long as you know that, you won't answer this email.
7. Payment Processing Form M? We'd love to see that.

[Quark]

Yeah, this could be fun.