419 scam: "MR. JOHN THOMAS MARK." <file.offie@yahoo.com.ph> YOUR PAYMENT $4.500 USD IS IN WESTERN UNION

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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:
- "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. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22999537634 (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.
- western.dept22@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. JOHN THOMAS MARK." <file.offie@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: western.dept22@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:08:14 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT $4.500 USD IS IN WESTERN UNION

GOOD DAY, COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY, THIS IS TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF ORDER FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND COMMITTEE.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOUR TO INFORM YOU THAT WE RECEIVED EXPRESS MANDATE AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM MR.PRESIDENT, DR THOMAS YAYI BONI (GCFR) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN TOGETHER WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND COMMITTEE TO COMMENCE THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS THROUGH THIS MEDIUM OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER FOR EASY CONFIRMATION AND YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT THROUGH THIS MEDIUM OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO BE RECEIVING $4,500.00 USD ONLY PER DAY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL FUNDS IS COMPLETELY TRANSFERRED TO YOU.

HOWEVER; THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENT PAYMENT SUM OF ($4,500 USD) HAS BEING SENT IN YOUR ADDRESS THIS MORNING BUT THE PAYMENT HAS PLACE ON HOLD BECAUSE YOU DID NOT FULFILLED OUR RULES AND REGULATION UNDER FOREIGN TRANSACTION,

ACCORDING TO OUR FOREIGN TRANSACTION STRATEGY THE TRANSACTION WILL COST YOU SUM OF $75.00 FOR THE SIGNING AND STAMPING FEE OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE, PLEASE CALL ME WITHIN THIS NUMBER +22999537634 OR EMAIL US ( western.dept22@gmail.com ) IMMEDIATELY OK

1) STAMP FEE $40.00

2) SIGN FEE $35.00

3) TOTAL SUM OF $75USD ONLY

SO MY DEAR IN YOUR BEST INTEREST, WE HEREBY ADVISED YOU TO USE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE STAMP AND SIGN FEE IMMEDIATELY THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE FIRST PAYMENT $4.500 USD FOR YOU TODAY.

BELOW ARE THE RECEIVER DETAILS,

RECEIPT NAME::::: OKEKE HYCENT

COUNTRY::::: BENIN REPUBLIC

CITY::::: PORT-NOVO

TEXT QUESTION::: GOD?

ANSWER:::; LONG

AMOUNT:::$75.00 DOLLAR ONLY

BE RE-ASSURED OF THIS WESTERN UNION INTEGRITY AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY.

THANKS, AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPOND AND GOD BLESS YOU.

BEST REGARDS

MR. JOHN THOMAS MARK.

PHONE NUMBER +22999537634

YOUR PAYMENT $4.500 USD IS IN WESTERN UNION

MANAGER FOREIGN OPERATION

EMAIL US :: ( western.dept22@gmail.com )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam