419 scam: "Cynthia J. Curtis" <mrjohnsteven12@gmail.com> This Is Supervisor Western Union Republic of Benin

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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)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.
- +22998059689 (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.
- wutransferoffice@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Cynthia J. Curtis" <mrjohnsteven12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wutransferoffice@rocketmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:48:09 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: This Is Supervisor Western Union Republic of Benin

Dear Friend,

I'm writing this to inform you that we have sent your first payment of $5,000.00USD today to your address,through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of (TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLERS) via western union,by the Authorities of (IMF/SENATORS COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN PAYMENT).

Meanwhile,The first transfer of $5,000.00USD was sent to you and I have listed the info below. As you know that we are sending you only $5,000.00USD per every transfer in a days.

Please note: you are going to contact Mr. Anthony Robert S.T.U. Director of western union payment department in Republic of Benin, with the fee to enable him release the valid information for you to pick up your first payment from any western union in your country, because they already transferred your first payment of $5,000.00USD, but it Was placed on hold due to the validation Fee of $110.00USD,and try to call him immediately you sent email to him.

Director Name: Mr. Anthony Robert
Email Address((((( wutransferoffice@rocketmail.com ))))))
Phone: +229 9805 9689

Furthermore, we are hereby notifying you that you are to officially make an administrative charge of $110.00 to enable them secure the validation file of your payment through our head office here. Note In Western Union transaction when an amount of funds in transaction is more than $200.000.00 US Dollars, the document file must be validated before the transfer will commence as ordered by the Federal Ministry of Finance and in all the Western Unions of the world-wide. We want you to know that this is a legitimate transfer and that is why our Federal Ministry of Finance said that your funds which were deposited at this Western Union with your name must be validated before the transfer will commence.

Here is the western union payment details to pick up the $5,000.00USD. Once you send the Validation Fee,then he will release the informationto you, to enable you go to any western union and pick up your money immediately.

Payment Informations,

MTCN #...158-436-4829 ($5,000)

Try your best and follow up the western union instruction by sending the $110.00uSD so that they will give you the valid information to pick up your first payment of $5.000USD,send them the activation Fee of $110.00USD with this information below.

You will send the $110.00 via Western Union money transfer to the name of our cashier manager Mr. Chinedu Emmanuel Nwabunwanne. Below is the destination address:

Receiver's Name:::: Chinedu Emmanuel Nwabunwanne
Country:::::::: Benin republic
City::::::: Cotonou
Amount::::: $110.00
Test Question:::: Honest
Test Answer:: Trust
Sender's Name::::??
Money Transfer Control Number:::??

Thank you very much for your co-operation.

yours in service,
MRS. CYNTHIA J. CURTIS
(Supervisor Western Union Republic of Benin)
Regulated by the Delivery Services Authority.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam