419 scam: "Mr. Don C John" <mgram970@gmail.com> Attention: Dear,

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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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22998333967 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Don C John" <mgram970@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunionoffice507@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 22:47:48 -0800
Subject: Attention: Dear,

*OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU*
*:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::*
*:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::*
*:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::*
*Western Union Money Transfer *
*EMS Post Office Agent Location*
*Benin Republic*
*FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE*
*TELEPHONE: +229 98333967*

*Attention: Dear,*

*How are you doing today? Please take your time to read and understand this
message and please get back to me as a matter of urgency. After our
official verification perusal we have obtain facts that you are the
bonafide beneficiary of the total fund of One Million, Five Hundred
Thousand united state dollars ( $1.500,000.00 ) deposited in our office by
the ministry of finance of the Federal Republic Of Benin through fund
vault KTU / 9023118308/03 from United Nation, since this fund was given by
the Paris Club International on your name we never heard from you till now,
we want to use this opportunity to congratulate you once again for this
immensely donation given to you by the Paris Club International, You are
pick up your first payment of $5,000USD immediately.*

*Please you are advise to go through this e-mail carefully and make sure
you understand and comply with the contents before replying. We are
instructed by Federal Government of Benin to transfer your fund to you via
our installment transfer through our service ( Western Union Money Transfer
) so you will be receiving $5,000.00 USD daily until the successful
installment transfer of your total fund of One Million, Five Hundred
Thousand united state dollars ( $1.500,000.00 ). Meaning that you will be
receiving your $5,000 USD till the two hundred twenty five days which is
the number of days required for you to receive your total fund of One
Million, Five Hundred Thousand united state dollars ( $1.500,000.00 ). *

*Mean while you are required to send us the re-new payment file which is
$78 usd for the $5000USD that we have already transferred to your name but
cannot be pick because it was place on hold by the management. Reason,
because we intend to deduct the transferring fee out from your total fund
but the Financial Trust Fund Committee of Benin Republic proof in
accordance to United Nation financial edits of 1990 as related to
international fund transfer policy as agreed with Western Union acts that
no one has right over your fund as it have been signed and stamped that no
money should be deducted from your fund until it all gets to you to avoid
any Mal-practice in making excessive deduction from your fund, be informed
that if the policy is not observe it might involve corruption which in
other words might lead you loosing your fund, therefore take note that we
cannot deduct your transfer fees from your fund.*

*Here is the information of the one we sent on your name now to you, but it
will remain on hold and the receiver name will not be given to you until
your payment file re-new before we can release the first $5,000USD to you.
To you be sure that the money is available in your name, you can track it
and confirm the availability of your first payment. Click on our web-site
via this tracking link
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
<https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global> to
track your available money.*

*Sender Name...............Michael Choppa*
*MTCN....................567-719-6723*
*Transfer Status: ( Available )*
*Amount:.......................$5000.00 USD*

*Therefore, copy the name below and go straight and send our official
re-new payment file of $78 usd to enable us proceed on your payment release
immediately, below is the information of our account officer which you will
use to remit the $78 usd Western Union Money Transfer been our re-new
payment file for your $5,000.00 usd.*

*Receiver Name:........ Michael EZE*
*City/Country:........Cotonou - Benin Republic.*
*Test Question:.......... Who*
*Test Answer:............. God*
*Amount:..................$78 usd*
*Mtcn# ...............................*
*Sender's Name: ....................*

*Your urgent respond is highly needed to enable us to release your first
transferred $5,000USD within an hour, include your telephone number as you
reply with your payment MTCN for the transfer fees. We hereby issued you
our code of conduct, which is ( WUMT-824 ) so you have to indicate this
code when contacting as your subject, call me for any question: +229
98333967*

*I do hope you totally understand the content and note of this message?
Please do get back to us immediately with your prompt response.*

*Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer,*
*Mr. Don C John ( Transfer Manager ) *
*TEL: +229 98333967*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam