419 scam: "Rev Anthony O. Chinedu"<serwis@spinel.com.pl> I'm An Assistant Manager Western Union Branch Cotonou

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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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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 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.
- westernunionmoneytransfer989@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev Anthony O. Chinedu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionmoneytransfer989@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 12 May 2013 06:53:10 -0700
Subject: I'm An Assistant Manager Western Union Branch Cotonou

SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE:
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 473 LEU, DE AKPAKPA ROAD.
Welcome to Western Union
E-mail:: westernunionmoneytransfer989@yahoo.com

ATTN ,

I'm An Assistant Manager Western Union Branch Cotonou (Bank of Africa
Benin SA) Benin Republic, My Name Is Rev Anthony O. Chinedu, I am
responding back to you this morning to inform you that Our General manager
just passed away 3days ago (((Died))).And all the files/documents was
handed over to me yesterday, Being Tuesday ,5th FEB, 2013 Luckily I went
through all the files and found out that you have incomplete transfer in
our custody,

that's why I am writing to inform you that I have some funds at hand to
assist you to complete your transaction here in our custody, but it's not
yet complete and secondly you have to assure me that after I help you on
this matter, and as soon as you receive your first installation payment
that you will return my supported money back to me?.The reason why I want
to help you out is because if this fund last for more than a year in our
custody it will transfer to Government account.

Therefore, I need your urgent respond today so that we shall finalize the
transfer of your $5,000.00. Thanks and God bless as am looking forward to
hear from you as the funds beneficiary, Remember that we will make the
payment two times a day, once in morning while the other will come to you
in the evening time. until your total sum of $950.000.00 (Nine Hundred And
Fifty Thousand United State Dollars ) is transfer to you completely.

Here is content email ( westernunionmoneytransfer989@yahoo.com )
THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELY
Rev Anthony O. Chinedu
ASSISTANT MANAGER WESTERN UNION.
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam