419 scam: "MR. WATSON JOHN" <watsonjohn@inmail.sk> YOUR AVAILABLE M.T.C.N 7423272592 SENT

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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:
- "the required fees" (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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22986106420 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. WATSON JOHN" <watsonjohn@inmail.sk>
Reply-To: western_union144@bine-bine.com
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:22:33 -0400
Subject: YOUR AVAILABLE M.T.C.N 7423272592 SENT

Attention.

I write you this mail regarding your payment of ($4.5m) USD which was deposited by the board of foreign contract payment office Benin Rep, here is your payment details to pick up your $5,000.00 today in any western union office in your country below:

MTCN Number:;;;;;;;7423272592
Senders name:;;;;;;;Norbert Jangula
Amount;;;;;;;;;;;;;$5000
TRACK IT NOW IS AVAILABLE TO PICK BY RECEIVER WHICH IS YOU, BUT YOU CAN'T PICK IT BECUASE IS ON HOLD UNTIL YOU SEND THE $55 OK, TRACK IT WITH THIS: https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ

However, you are to pay $55.00 for Inco-transfer Programing and transfer charge, as soon as the require fee of $55.00 is paid today we will release your first payment of $5000 which have been sent to you immediately.

Also you advise to reconfirm your receiver information to the above email to avoid wrong transfer.
Your full name.......country....... City......Phone number.......age........sex.........

Be inform that the total amount you will be receiving each day is $5,000.00 starting from the day we confirm the required fees of $55.00 You are advice to send the $55.00 immediately with the below information:.

Receiver Name: ::::: Edwin Obalimu
City:::::::::::::: Cotonou
Country:::::::::::: Benin Republic
Text Question::::::: God
Test Answer:::::::::: Bless
Amount:::::: $55.00 Usd
Money Transfer Control Number M.T.C.N ::::::::::
SENDER'S NAME ::::::

Call me on +229-861-06-420 immediately you send the $55.00 so that we can release your $5,000.00, as soon as we confirm the M.T.C.N number of the $55.00 your first payment of $5000.00 will be released for you to pick it up immediately and we will e-mail you with the M.T.C.N number which you will use to pick it up.

We are waiting for your urgent reply with the payment information to enable you to pick up your first payment from your Destination which you have reconfirmed to us.

Yours in service
Mr. Watson John
+229-861-06-420
officer in charge
Western Union Department Benin Rep

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam