419 scam: "Mr.Joseph Aminu" <off.file4321345@hotmail.fr> Attention funds owner your funds has finally being released this morning congra

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22999016432 (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.
- wunion350@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Joseph Aminu" <off.file4321345@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: wunion350@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 00:31:43 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Attention funds owner your funds has finally being released this morning congratulation once again!!

Attn,Dear Friend

This
Message Is From The Western Union To The Owner Of This E-mail, How Are
You Today, I Write To Inform You That We Have Already Sent You
USD5000.00 Dollars Through Western Union As We Have Been Given The
Mandate To Transfer Your Full Compensation Payment Total Sum Of US
700,000.00,Via Western Union As Instructed By Our Government.

I
Was Calling Your Telephone Number To Give You The Information Through
Phone But You Did Not Pick Up My Calls Throughout That Yesterday Even
This Morning. Now I Decided To Email You The MTCN And Sender's Name So
That You Will Pick Up This USD5000.00 To Enable Us Send Another Today As
You Know We Will Be Sending You Only USD5000.00 Per Daily.

Please Run To Western Union To Pick Up The USD5000.00 And Call Me Back To Send You Another Payment Today, Direct Phone Line Is: +229-99016432,
Manager Dr George Koffi Email: (wunion350@yahoo.fr) Call Or Email Me
Once You Picked Up This USD5000.00. Here Is The Western Union
Information To Pick Up The Money: MTCN : 613-025-1864 Sender's Name: Charles Sender's Last Name donald., Amount's $5,000.00 I am Waiting For Your Call Once You Pick Up The Money.

MEANWHILE
YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE TRANSFERING FEE WHICH IS $105 USD FOR
THE WHOLE TRANSFER CHARGES, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY REMITTED TO YOUR NAME,
SO WITHOUT THE TRANSFER FEE YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT'S ON HOLD
AND THE MTCN CANNOT BE RELEASED TO YOU UNTILL YOU SEND THE TRANSFER FEE,
THAT IS AN INSTRUNCTION
FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTERY OF FINANCE (FMF).

Please Email Me Your Direct Telephone Number Because I Need To Be Calling You Once We Send Any Payment For These Information's.

HERE
IS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE TRANSFER CHARGE SO
THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU FOR ANOTHER TO BE SENT
IMMEDIATELY.

RCEIVER NAME....OZOEMENEM MICHEAL
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ....................... COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION ........ A
TEXT ANSWERE ........ B
AMOUNT..................$105 USD

Thanks
MRS. PATRICIA
ANTHONY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam