419 scam: "Mrs Peculier Smile"<wu080869@yahoo.com> Your over due payment alert

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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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22999036961 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Peculier Smile" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <www.wunion@info.al>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 13:00:30 -0800
Subject: Your over due payment alert

ATTENTION:

This is to inform you that the Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are here to notify you of your payment inherited funds of (US$2,800,000 Million USD After the meeting held on 3rd of sept. 2010. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN Has instructed this Department to send your funds to you through western union money transfer for easier receive of your inherited funds without any further delay.

Be informed that we have already sent you $5000.00 usd dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full payment. I have been calling your telephone number since yesterday to give you the payment information through phone but your mobile phone is not responding until this morning,

So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name through email so that you will pick up the $5000.00 usd to enable us send another $5000.00 usd today as you know we will be sending you only $5000.00 usd per day though it was agreed that you will pay the sum of $275 before payment department will release the payment to you.

Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the $5000.00 usd and call Director of Operation because he is the person in charge for your payment so that he can send you another payment today.

Operation Manager Dr.Simeon Miracle
Phone Number +229-99036961.
Email:(www.wunion@info.al)

Email Him once you picked up the $5000.00 USD today.Here is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00; which you will be receiving your payment $5000.00 Us Dollars immediately you sent them their transfer charge of $275 and it will serve as re-confirmation of your file payment from the office in charge.

Once again be advice to reconfirm your information such as;
,
Your. Receiver--------
Your. Country------
Your. City-----------
Your. Tel----------
Your. Test question------
Your. Answer-----------
Your.Passport--------

Here Is The Senders Information

Sender First Name JOY FRANK
MTCN NUMBERS : 792-068-9289
Question:Color?
Answer:Blue
Amount: $5000 USD
Website:www.westernunion.com

We Are Waitng For You To Send The $275 Today

RECEIVER------------ DURU UCHECHUKWU
LOCATION CITY---------COTONOU-BENIN
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN
TEXT QUESTION--COLOR?
ANSWER-----------BLUE
AMOUNT--------------$275.ONLY

Be advise that the $275 is a compulsory as they told me that is only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00 usd,

Feel free to call this department in case if you have any question don't forget to email us the require information such as your current telephone number so that we can call you once we send any payment.

Yours in Service,
Mrs Peculier Smile,
Western union Agent

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam