419 scam: "Dr. Richard Norman" <snowtigress57@yahoo.com> From the Honorable Office of Dr. Richard Norman

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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22998862742 (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.
- wumt.wumtransfre@superposta.com (Superposta; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Richard Norman" <snowtigress57@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: wumt.wumtransfre@superposta.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:04:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From the Honorable Office of Dr. Richard Norman

>From the Honorable Office of Dr. Richard Norman (Head Of Department, IMF 032-rue des acassias 129 Zone de Residencielle, Cotonou , Benin Republic.)

>From Dr. Richard Norman,

Your email has been tenderd by the Anti-Fraud International to our office, as a scammed victim involved in baited transaction and i know you are not supposed to believe what iâ€™m about to tell you because of your past experiences, but in every sense of reasoning, we should acknowledge that its not every one out there that are using their offices or power to take advantage of people like the ones you have encountered.

Now after the review of your payment file with the Western Union, we found out that your fund has been unecessarilly held by some dubious officers in the organisation, and now after our board meeting, we have nominated the Foreigne Operation Mgr in their Head Office in Lakostes Palar to transfer your fund accordingly to you.

Therefore, what you have to do is to contact them with the below information with the Admistrative Charge of [$100usd] for your total Fund via :

Contact Person : Mr George Manger
Email : wumt.wumtransfre@superposta.com
Tell : +229 9886-2742

The administrative charge will ensure that you have carried out the necessarilly obligation given to you, and as such liable to claim your fund under the legal order of the IMF. Be advised to copy the below information and send the payment and udate them with the payment information.

Below is the recieving information for your Perusal:

Receiver Name: Okoye Leonard
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Question: In God
Test Answer : We Trust
Amount : $100usd.

Haven made the payment; they will send you information for you to pick up your first payment in just 6hrs after activation, as they will also call you on phone, if you provide your current phone number to them.

Dr. Richard Norman,
Head of Dept, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
032-rue des acassias 129 Zone de Residencielle,
Cotonou, Benin-Republic
Â 29th July 2012
Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam