419 scam: "Johnson Williams"<customercare629@gmail.com> From Western Union Head office

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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. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Johnson Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carecentre.customer@yahoo.dk>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 07:09:53 -0500
Subject: From Western Union Head office

Western Union Head office Mr.Johnson William
& associates 06 np 1409 Ikoyi Island
West Africa Republic Of Nigeria
Telephone:+
Email:

Attention: Customer

Good day,am writing to inform you of the recent update regarding your funds and a further compensation channel.On 24/06/2013,an order came from world leaders of various countries including your country too demanding for the President of this country Dr.Goodluck Ebere Jonathan to refund all the AMERICAN and UK citizens the money they have lost in the hands of NIGERIA scammer's or this country Nigeria will be sanctioned.The president Dr.Goodluck Ebere Jonathan promised to compensate every victims with the sum of $800,000,00USD,EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS under one condition which is that the beneficiaries should henceforth stop all further communications with those fraudsters and should report any organization that is standing as a communicative medium. This week, the president Dr.Goodluck Ebere Jonathan has given the assignment of issuing out the compensation funds to this bank and it will be done also through the western union branch of this bank too. We have started the process by issuing o

You are free to visit our website which is www.westernunion.com and confirm your transfer and it's availability.Below are your first mtcn for your confirmation.

MTCN: 7839313563
Sender's First Name: JOHN
Sender's Last Name: CHUN
Test Question:What color
Answer: Blue
Amount $3000.00usd

We will however like to inform you that we found your receiver's name on RED FLAG on the server of the western union in your country so you might have a slight problem accessing your funds but we will help you and do the removal process though .We will need to purchase the ownership stamp from the high court in this country and then also procure the access papers from your country's embassy here. I hope you can see that this can't be done alone by us. Also do beware that this papers will cost $180 in total but this country will take care of $100 and it will cost you a little token of $80.

Finally, stop all further communications with any offices that claims to have your funds as this office is the righ channel. I will be awaiting a response from you regarding the payment further transfers of your funds.The details you will use to make the payment is below:

Receiver Name: JOHN MORBA OKECHUKWU
Country: NIG
City:IKEJA
Zip Code: +234
Test Question: How Long
Test Answer: 45Mins
Amount:$80.00 USD

We await to receive the western union payment information today.

Best
Regards.

Western Union Head office
Mr.Johnson William

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam