419 scam: Western Union Benin <lindason_hope@yahoo.com> TRACKYOUR PAYMENT MTCN) :# 9611517744

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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22998262386 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Benin <lindason_hope@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernun_dept@live.com
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:50:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: TRACKYOUR PAYMENT MTCN) :# 9611517744

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION WORDWIDE TRANSFER PAYMENT

Â
Â
Attn:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Good Day, I want to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full over due payment total sum of $950,000.00 USD, via western union by the Ministry of Finance.

So I decided to email you the MTCN and senders name so that you can pick up the $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you $5000.00 only per day.

But it was agreed that you will pay the Transfer Clearance Certificate Renew Payment file which is sum of $68.00 before the release of the payment to you.

After the payment of $60.00 your Payment File will be renew thenÂ you will go andÂ pick up this information and locate any western union around to pick up the $5000.00 and call me because I am the person in charge of your payment, and IÂ can send you another payment today once you contact him, Cell Phone Number +229- 98262386

E-mail :( westernun_dept@live.com ) contact him once you picked up the $5000.00 today.

Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00; which you will be receiving daily after you sent them their transfer clearance certificate renew of your payment file of $68.00 and it will serve as re-confirmation of your payment file in their office.

Here is the Senders Information;

MTCN) :# 9611517744
First Name :...............Patrick
Second Name:........ Wilfred
Text Question: ..........
Answer: ..........
Amount: $5,000usd

Click Website; http://www.westernunion.fr/ WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?method= load&countryCode=FR& languageCode=fr&pagename= HomePage and track it now to be sure before you go to Western Union Office in your Country OK.

They will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer clearance certificate renewal ofÂ file payment sum of $60.00 today, and you can use this below information to send the

transfer charges today.
Receiver Name....EUGENE NWALIEJI
Country------Benin Republic
Your. City----- Cotonou
Amount---------$68.00usd
Text Question----What Colour
Answer-----Blue
Sender's Name----
MTCN-------------?

Be advice that $60 Transfer Clearance Certificate is compulsory as they told me that is the only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely.

Endeavor to E-mail your direct telephone number because you will call once the payment informationâ€™s is sent to you.
Â I wait for the payment details urgent

Yours faithfully,

MR.FRANK BEN
Director, Western Union OfficeÂ
Western Union Benin Republic
Direct Line: +229- 98262386

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam