419 scam: Barrister Godwin Johnson <mrrosedan@gmail.com> WESTERN UNION OFFICE FOR YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER

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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "western.unionbenin11@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22998721558 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Godwin Johnson <mrrosedan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western.unionbenin11@qatar.io
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:49:36 +0530 (IST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION OFFICE FOR YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER

Attn: Sir /Madam,

CLAIM NOTIFICATION:

The owner of this email address
This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed to transfer your fund $987,000.00 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 25th Of July 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 $900,000.00.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::::carlos lopez
2)MTCN Number::: 6336706150
3)Text Question:::How long
4)Answer:::24 hrs
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;REV John Paul
Payment Manager
Tel+229-98721558
(western.unionbenin11@qatar.io )
Thanks
Barrister Godwin Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam