419 scam: "Mrs Jona Edward," <atmecobj@mail.md> YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
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.
- +22998532544 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Jona Edward," <atmecobj@mail.md>
Reply-To: western_union74@qatar.io
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 04:39:44 -0400
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

ATTENTION

Please be informed that your funds are coming directly from the Minister of
Finance headquarters in west Africa it is a Grand Donation from the United
Nations to support individuals financially due to the global and financial
economic meltdown so your address was selected globally as one of the
beneficiaries this month and You have been guaranteed to receive your first
installment through western union Department because it is only office that is
Convenient, Secure and Fast! The maximum amount limit is $5000.00, on daily
basis before your Compensation Payment of $2.8Million will be transfer into
your designated account.

It became imperative to contact you on the subject matter because after the
fund has been brought to our office to remit. somebody from your country by
name Charles Porter contacted us and said you are on sick bed and ordered him
to contact us to remit the USD$1.5Million using his information to pick up
your fund presently under our custody for transfer on your behalf.The Official
responsible for the presentation of your money valued $2.8Million Winning
quickly granted approvals to their application now waiting for final
endorsement from Board of Trustees.

When our BANK Debit Note was submitted to my desk for final Approvals before
forwarding it to Board for endorsement, I noticed that there are discrepancies
as there was no evidence of authorization letter from you for Charles Porter
to receive the fund on your behalf.I urgently summoned The Official
responsible for the presentation of the winning and directed him to stop the
movement of the funds and at the same time placed a stop order instruction on
the funds pending when your views and comments are received with regards to
this matter.

I hereby urged you to call or email me urgently for your comments which will
be highly appreciated if you are still alive or not on sick bed with sum of
require activation fee $125, to commence the transfer of your first payment
$5,000.00usd immediately, because Mr.potter here wants to this fee and we
will not hesitate to continue the payment transfer activation with the name of
the Charles potter on claim if no response come from you. Contact me on this
number :+229-98-53-25-44, .or e-mail me back using this address
(western_union74@qatar.io) once again your silence or non corporation toward
this transaction will be a clear indication that you authorized him to effect
the above changes.

Also fill the information below to help us facilitate your transfer via
Western Union
1) Your Full Name:.............
2) Country and Mobile:. .
3) Home/ Office Address:....
4) Profession and Age:.......
YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
REGARDS,
Mrs Jona Edward,
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS,
WESTERN UNION DEPT. (western_union74@qatar.io)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam