419 scam: "Dr.Patrick Mike" <johnhill4355@gmail.com> Hi Money Sent MTCN:2612591885 $5000.00 USD

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
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.
- +2299870790 (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.
- union.westernunion.western67@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Patrick Mike" <johnhill4355@gmail.com>
Reply-To: union.westernunion.western67@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:16:18 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Hi Money Sent MTCN:2612591885 $5000.00 USD

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Western Union®Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
Tell +229 9870790

Western Union email: ( union.westernunion.western67@gmail.com )
Hello My Dear Friend IMF Grant Unit www.imf.org

Attn: Receipt, This Message is from (I.M.F) and Federal Ministry of Finance Burkina-Faso, This is to let you know that after the board meeting held at our headquarters Yesterday, your VISA ATM CARD USD$1.5Million has been cashed and the first $5,000 was sent today.

We have concluded to release and effect your payment through western union $5,000 Daily until the $1.500.000.00 is completed. The information is below: First Payment has been send: MTCN: 2612591885 NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name but you have to re-new your Payment file with The Western union as to enable them purchasing your transfer file to prevent illegal transfer before you pick it up.

We instructed the western union office to Keep sending you $5,000.00 daily until the payment of $1.500.000.00 is completed, again re-confirm your address to them by avoid sending it to wrong person so that they will be sure; MTCN: 2612591885 Sender First Name; Uakea Sender Last Name: Teono Track your payment on the website:

www.westernunion.com Contact Person Mr. George Obukweli of Westen Union Agency if any problem to enable him issue to you the text question and answer so that you can pick up the Amount,

below email is his office email address:(union.westernunion.western67@gmail.com) forward him your Telephone number and address so that he will be sure and you can also call him on his telephone number: (+229 9870790,) as soon as you received this message to enable him work on your payment file immediately ok.

TAKE NOTE: that because of internet hackers we ask the Western Union office not to mark the payment paid yet until you re-new your transfer file so when track This payment it will show picked up or not exist, it is from the Western Union office. View more details about me Currently IMF is giving out special grant on Economic empowerment program to selected corporate entities and charitable organizations around the globe for The outstanding role and tangible performance in area of eradicating perverting and industrial empowerment.
WEB:http://site.www.westernunion.com/ ;
DEAR CUSTOMER,

THIS IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT INFORMATION.

SENDER'S NAME:==== john mike
TEXT QUESTION:=======SENT?
ANSWER:==============TO YOU.
AMOUNT:===============$5,000 Only
M.T.C.N :===========2612591885

Our transfer charges is only $108 and you can send the fee through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below befor picking of the USD$5000 today ,

RECEIVER: ===CHUKWUMA EMMANUEL
COUNTRY: === Benin Republic
City=== Potonovor
Text Question== How Long?
Answer: ======24hrs
Amount: ======$108

After you have sent your transfer charges $108 Dollars Kindly go to western union this with information and pick up your first transfer.

Dr Mr. Zack Daniel
Atlantic Bank Western Union Office Benin Republic
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE (303)

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam