419 scam: HEAD OFFICE W U <if4260@gmail.com> MONEY TRANFSE MTCN#

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "required 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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22998123964 (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.
- westernunionofficebenin20009@yahoo.ie (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: HEAD OFFICE W U <if4260@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunionofficebenin20009@yahoo.ie
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:37:53 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: MONEY TRANFSE MTCN#

SendMoneyWorldwideSend Money Worldwide
Send Money Worldwide...............

Western Union is a convenient way to send money fast. It's easy,
reliable and you have a choice of great options.
From The Desk Of JOHN LORD

Western Union®Payments call me at +229-98123964
Email / westernunionofficebenin20009@yahoo.ie
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT COTONOU REPUBLIC, LOME,BENIN

Attention Beneficiary.

Below is the information of your First payment of $5,000 from your total amount of $2.5millionUSD which was deposit here Mr. bankimoon the UN secretary general this fund was a compensation of what you lost to scammer so i Mr EBAH LOUIS smith is the only person you are to received from, so if any body contact you from Benin again then no that person is a scammer.for your information i am not a Benin because i was appointed from adisasa baba Ethiopia just because of this transfer to you

with registration number of: EB-2225.

But unfortunately the Managing Director of this department called us this morning and reported that you have not completed the required fee of $76.00 us dollars which you are suppose to pay for the purchasing of your inheritance files before the transfer commerce we have programmed the entire funds into our system to enable you pick up $5,000.00 daily also The funds transfers are all in place for you to collect now but we have to purchase your payment file due to the huge amount of money involves,.

However we have already sent out the funds but not yet been putting on your name as the receiver. Therefore you are advice to send us the required fee" so that we can purchase your payment inheritance files and put your name on the receiver of the transfer to enable you pick up the money.

You are advised to send this $76.00 us dollars purchasing fee via western union money transfer or money gram to our cashier receiver name mentioned below:

Receiver's Name: ONYIBOR SUNDAY
City: COTONOU
Country: BENIN
Text Question: Payment
Text Answer: Western Union.
Amount: $76.00 us dollars

Then after you have made the payment you can send the payment information through our email address written below together with your full receiver's info. And As soon as we have received the payment of $76.00 us dollars from you and it's confirmed we will carry out our duties effectively and urgent as we have schedule because all necessary arrangement has been completed in our end within 3hours we ill complete the transfer online and put your name on the receiver of the fund also furnish you with the full info. /details which you will use to pick up the money at any western union branch or store in your city/state. You are advised to comply immediately you receive this mail to enable us carry out our duties effectively and urgent as we have schedule because all necessary arrangement has been completed. Is rest assured that immediately we receive the activation fee today, we will purchase your file and your entire transfer valued of $2.5million within
3hours and commence with the release of your daily payment $5,000 each morning until your fund is completely transferred to you.

ENCLOSE YOU FINE THE PAYMENT DETAILS THAT WAS SENT TODAY!

MTCN : #**6893299460
Sender's first name:John Peter
Sender's last name: Lord
Text Question: When ?
Answer: Today
Amount $5,000.00

We advise that you visit our website WWW.westernunion.com and go to track, put in the senders name and MTCN No. and see that your money is there but needed the above stated fee to re-direct the transfer to you for your easy pick up. "Note that within 72hrs if you do not remit the required $76.00us dollars the transfer will be retrieved back and remember that the money detail given to you does not bear your name as the receiver yet until you make the required payment of $76.00 us dollars

Get back to us through our Email (westernunionofficebenin20009@yahoo.ie) with the payment information once you have made the payment OKAY.

Waiting on your email once you have made the payment.

Have a good day.

Sincerely,
MR.JOHN LORD +229-98123964
Western Union®Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam