419 scam: "Mr. Philip Odu-Oza." <mr.phillipoduoza@yahoo.cn> YOUR MTCN ::::::::''8250321191''URGENT MESSAGE.

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22999182982 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Philip Odu-Oza." <mr.phillipoduoza@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: western_union.federal@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:02:29 +0800 (CST)
Subject: YOUR MTCN ::::::::''8250321191''URGENT MESSAGE.

Western Union Department Head office Republic Du Benin West Africa.
WESTERN UNION TRANSFER REPUBLIC OF BENIN &nb sp;
Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide.
REPUBLIC OF BENIN/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPAKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
WEBSITE:https://wumt. westernunion.com/asp/ orderStatus.asp?country=global

WESTERN UNIONÂ® PAYMENTâ€

This
is to inform you that this office was instructed to pay your fund
$1.5,000.000USA Dollars by America security leading team and America
representative embassy between now until January 29 2013,per day you
will receive the sum of $8,000.00 usd Dollars as we programmed it ,in
tune of $4,000 twice.

Once again you have to bear it in mind that
you are not going to pay any other front fee except transfer fee,which
will cost you only $83 usd dollars for the whole transfer which you are
to make available to this office with the information that will be
provided for you by our Manager director Mrs Ani Mike of payment release
order.

Â However be informed that we have send the sum of $4,000
usd Dollars this morning with her name to avoid cancellation of your
payment and you have only four hours to call this office upon the
receipt of this email so that your transfer will be changed to your name
because you know that this is important and as such your immediate
response will do you good.

So you have no time to waist since the
time you have to contact this office is 4hours so that your first
payment will be activate online for pick up and the maximum amount you
will be receiving per day starting from today is $8,000.00 usd Dollars
in two different payments as i have said earlier and the Money Transfer
Control Number of today is below.

FIRST NAME: ANI
SENDERS LAST NAMEÂ :Â MIKE
MTCNÂ ::::::::8250321191 Pending
AMOUNT :Â $4,000.00USD

Once again be advice to reconfirm your correct information which we will use throughout the transfer such as;

RECEIVER NAME_____
COUNTRY_______
CITY________
TEL__________
TEST QUESTION_____
ANSWER______
Copy of yourÂ ID_____

Furthermore
you advised to Contact this office as the instruction was passed that
within 2Days without hearing from you. Count your payment cancelled
because we are doing all this for your favor. Number to call is below
listed Manager director office Mrs Ani Mike of release order:Email her
only on this email address

Sign,
Rev. Clayton Bowie (Payment Officer)
Call Line: +229-99182982
western unionÂ has
obtained your contact details as legitimate owner of the approved funds.
Copyright Â©2012 Western UnionÂ®Payments Group.

Western UnionÂ®

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam