419 scam: Felix Ogbuma <felixogbuma@hotmail.com> YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

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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.
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. )
- "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.
- +22999751031 (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.
- felixogbuma@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Felix Ogbuma <felixogbuma@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:49:54 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE:
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 473 LEU, DE AKPAKPA ROAD.

Welcome to Western Union Tel: +229 99751031
felixogbuma@hotmail.com

WEB SITE.www.westernunion.com

ATTN:BENEFICIARY

FUND TRANSFER OF $950.000.00 USD

WE ARE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000,00 HAVE BEEN MADE TODAY. BELOW YOU WILL SEE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION. BUT YOU HAVE TO GO TO ANY WESTERN UNION OFFICE AND SEND THE TRANSFER CHANGE TO US BEFORE YOU CAN PICK ON THE PAYMENT AND YOUR TRANSFER CHANGE IS ONLY $150

NOTE: THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $150 USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE TRANSFERRING FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN REPUBLIC TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING BECAUSE IF ANY ONE HAS ACCESS TO THAT IT WILL INVOLVE YOU LOOSING YOUR FUND, NO ONE HAS TO BE TRUST EVEN YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER. ALSO YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOUR TOTAL FUNDS HERE IS $950.000.00 USD

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF THE ONE WE SENT TODAY TO YOU BUT IT WILL REMAIN ON HOLD UNTIL YOU SEND US OUR TRANSFER CHARGES OF $150 BEFORE WE CAN RELEASES IT TO YOU SO YOU CAN TRACK IT WITH OUR WEB SITE. http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp

WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
Sender Name: James Davis

MTCN: 4346594639
Question--------------Thank
Test Answer-----------Lord
Amount----------------$5,000,00,

FINAL UPDATE US WITH HE $150 USD TO ENABLE US PROCEED ON YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY, BELOW IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO REMIT THE $150USD VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BEEN OUR TRANSFERRING CHARGE FOR YOUR $5000.00 USD.

1.RECEIVER NAME:........ NJOKU HENRY

2.COUNTRY:.....................BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :................................COTONOU.
4.TEST QUESTION:............A?
5.TEST ANSWER:..............APPLE.
6.AMOUNT:........................$150, USD

NOTE:

This office is not liable for any action as shall be taken when the recipient has read and understood the instruction contained herein and has failed to respond via e-mail or direct phone call +229-99751031, for the period of three (3) working days.

Finally, I want to stress some facts clearly concerning some reports about people using our Logo and Adoltration of my Name Mark James and this company to extort money from people claiming to have some transactions. To tackle this incidence I have resorted to giving a code to any person that has transaction with us to avoid the reoccurance of such situation. Any e-mail receive concerning this transaction without this code (WUMT) should be regarded and treated as a scam and it is not from this office. And I shall be grateful if you can call on this +229 99751031, your urgent alart for this is highly appreciated. Thank you.

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

REGARDS
MR.FELIX OGBUMA
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, incl
uding attachments.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam