419 scam: "Mr. Nicolas - Briggs" <nicolasbriggs1@terra.com> FROM THE OFFICE BLU WESTERN UNION BONUS ORGANIZERS.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
- +229999650381 (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.
- servicewesternunion124@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Nicolas - Briggs" <nicolasbriggs1@terra.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: servicewesternunion124@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:36:58 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE BLU WESTERN UNION BONUS ORGANIZERS.

FROM THE OFFICE BLU WESTERN UNION BONUS ORGANIZERS.
En. Victor Ethelbert, 17 Avenue De l'Independence, 2nd
Street,COTONOU.,BENIN REP.

PAYMENT NOTIFICATION: FINAL WARNING FOR YOUR PAYMENT OR IT WILL BE CANCELLED.

Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to inform you about the latest RESOLVED by the Board of Directors
in respect to your (UNCLAIMED) Inheritance; Lotto won which have been in
our custody for a long period till date. We learnt that you were asked to
pay some certain amount in order to receive your (FUNDS) of which you
could not then, due to one reason or the other. Now our Western Union
(Department) here is now offering you a Special BONUS to help you in
receiving your total (FUNDS) in our custody. In other words, we are now
asking you to just pay only ($52) for renewal fee for your old payment
file which was expired to enable it re-new and also you start receiving
your (OUTSTANDING UNCLAIMED FUNDS) left in our custody.

Meanwhile, this is the last opportunity for you to receive your (FUNDS)
and you are advised for your best interest to comply immediately with this
resolution and you will start receiving your funds ($9,000) per day 2x1,
totaling ($800,000.00). Note that after (4 DAYS) of this notice and you
fail to make the renewal payment as required, then we will convert the
funds to Government account as the law stipulates here which will result
to a cancellation of your payment. Note also that after (3 weeks) of this
notice, we shall enter for a new project for the year and that is our
reason for offering you this help, so do not to fail to comply.

You are hereby advised to contact the paying officer as directed and send
your details as stated below and also pay the ($52) immediately, so that
we can key in your payment in our PAYMENT DATA BASE to enable you to start
receiving your payment from tomorrow

After the payment of ($52) you will start receiving your money every day
($4,500 X 2) Either through Western Union or Money Gram preferably by you
( $9,000 ) until the full payment of ($800,000.00) is completed. The total
sum you will be receiving per day is ($9,000) in two payment ($4,500 X 2)

Please re-confirm and forward the below required details to the Paying
Officer to avoid wrong transfer:

Contact Person: En. Victor Ethelbert,
Emails; servicewesternunion124@yahoo.fr
Tel: +229 (999 650 38)

(1) Beneficiary Name--
(2) Address--
(3) Tel--
(4) Occupation/Position--
(5) Age--
(6) Destination Country--
(7) Text Question --
(8) Answer--
(9) Scan copy (Any Valid id) you will present over there for pick up--

Yours Faithfully.

Mr. Nicolas - Briggs
BLU WESTERN UNION BONUS ORGANIZER.
REP.DUE BENIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam