419 scam: "Mr.James Arum" <unitedstateembassy48@gmail.com> Email alert!!

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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. )
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
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.
- +22998410392 (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.
- westernunion189@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Arum" <unitedstateembassy48@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion189@rocketmail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2012 21:58:17 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: Email alert!!

Email alert!!

This is to officially informed you that we have concluded arrangements to effect your payment of $5.5 Million United States Dollars through WESTERN UNION Swift Money transfer services today, but the maximum amount you will be receiving every day starting from tomorrow is $5,000..00 as reflected in our transfer system daily until the total funds is completely transferred.

This special arrangement is being used to avoid all scrupulous demands by both the states and federal authorities that have previously delayed your payment till date; we shall need your maximum co-operation to ensure that strictness and confidence is maintained to avoid any further delays. You are to discard any request asking you to send money to any agency such as courier company, Bank and Security Agency as there are no such and any money committed their will be regret, so be wise.

Please contact the Accredited WESTERN UNION Agent via (westernunion189@rocketmail.com )
for the details of your first payment of $5,000 United States Dollars and reconfirm your correct details that you will like the first transfer to be program with such as Receivers Name, destination where you will like the transfer to be send to and your cell phone number for urgent communication if the need arise.

Fill your details below for reference purposes:

Receiver name: ....
ADDRESS: ...........
CITY: ..................
COUNTRY: .................
TEL: ......................
AGE.........................
OCCUPATION: ...............
ID-----------------------

Remember your obligation to secure an (International Remittance Form) as stated in United Nation act of (FRT209) that will help build and renew your transfer file for record keeping as a way of checkmating the present Economics crisis situations, Contact the below Electronic Transfer unit of WESTERN UNION for immediate programming of your first transfer:

Attention: Mr.Andrew ikegbune
General Manager of Western Union Department
Telephone: +22998410-392
Email: (westernunion189@rocketmail.com)

Thanks and God Bless.
Best regards
Mr.James Arum

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam