419 scam: "Hon J Sam" <honjanny01@live.com> KINDLY CALL MELVIN BRIGHT AT WESTERN UNION 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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
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.
- +22998563472 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- paymentunionpayment0011@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon J Sam" <honjanny01@live.com>
Reply-To: paymentunionpayment0011@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:39:31 -0400
Subject: KINDLY CALL MELVIN BRIGHT AT WESTERN UNION OFFICE.

Hello Dear,

This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed to
transfer your fund $1.7,000.00 U.S Dollars compensating all the SCAM VICTIMS
and your email was found as one of the VICTIMS. by America security leading
team and America representative between today until 30th Of June 2011. Per a
day you will be receiving the sum of $7,000 dollars, however be informed that
we have already sent the $7,000 dollars this morning to avoid cancellation of
your payment, remain the total sum of $1.7,000.00.You have only six hours to
call this office upon the receipt of this email the
maximum amount you will be receiving per a day starting from today is $7,000
in three different payments and the Money Transfer Control Number of today is
below. NOTE; The send $7,000 is on hold because of the instruction from IMF
office, they asked us to place it on hold by requesting the clearance
certificate in order to fulfill all the neccesary obligation so that we will
start sending you the payment through Western Union money transfer, the
neccesary obligation i mean here is to obtain the clearance certifictae.

Below is the information of today track it in our website www.westernunion.com
to see is avalible to pick up by the receiver.
1)Sender Name::::Obeche Sylvester
2)MTCN Number::: 2411725360
3)Text Question:::For
4)Answer:::Whom
5)Amount::: $7,000.00

we need the below details from you, to enable us place the payment to your
name and transfer the fund to you.

(Full Receivers name)........................
(Your Country).................................
Address)........................................
(Phone Number)...............................
(Your Age).......................................
(OCCUPATION )....................
A COPY OF YOUR ID/ PICTURE....................

Further more you advised to call us as the instruction was passed that within
6 hours without hearing from you, Count your payment cancelled. Number to call
is below listed manager director office of release order:

Contact Person;Mr Melvin Bright
Payment Manager
Tel+229-98563472
(paymentunionpayment0011@gmail.com)

Thanks,
Mrs Janny Samuleh.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam