419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <ofice_live@yahoo.com> CALL MR JOHN FOR YOUR MTCN SENT +22968148645

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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:
- "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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22968148645 (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_ub@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <ofice_live@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western_ub@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 21:57:27 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: CALL MR JOHN FOR YOUR MTCN SENT +22968148645

Western
union
payment

Send
Money Worldwide
Western
Union Office Benin
Republic.

ADDRESS: 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD

LAGOTES PALAR COTONOU.

DR JOHN
ALUSI

Address; St, Peter & Paul

Road
Cotonou Benin
Rep.

(WUMT)Western union payment
Notificatication

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

We want to inform you that your
payment of $5000 has been sent today through western Union and i want you to
contact Dr John Alusi immediately with his email address email
(western_ub@yahoo.com.hk) and here is western union information to pick up your
first payment $5000.00.usd today .

www.westernunion.com

Sender
Name=Laura Lamp

MTCN==489-322-5146

Amount Transferred: $5,000

Text
Question: What Color?

Answer: RED

Status : Available for pick up by
receiver

call him with this number +22968148645, ask Him where you can
pick up your payment, the only money you have to pay is $95. for the first
INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT, been the clearance certificate of your funds from IMF
office, with the above info, the $2.5 Million was located to be sending to you
$5,000.00 everyday until he complete sending the whole amount to you the sum of
($2.5 Million).So be advice to send Him the clearance certificate fee before you
can pick up your first payment with information bellow to send the $95 to
us.

RECEIVER NAME--- --MR IYKE OKEKE

COUNTRY---- ------BENIN
REPUBLIC

CITY------- --COTONOU

QUESTION----- -HOW MUCH

ANSWER----- --95
DOLLARS

MTCN---- --

SENDER NAME--- -------

Wait to hear from you
with the payment information before your first payment can be realised from
western union office in your country, We wish you good luck.

THANKS
FOR OUR PATRONAGE,

YOURS SINCERELLY

DR JOH ALUSI

TEL
+22968148645

FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER

WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC

..................................................................................................................................................

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This
e-mail, including any attachments,contains information from Sir. Mark James,
Western Union Benin Republic Manager Group, Inc, which may be
confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the
individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be
aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this
information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately by "reply to sender only" message and destroy all
electronic and hard copies of the communication, including
attachments.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam