419 scam: "Alvern Wentzel." <mtu@mongol.net> Western Union Special Bonus

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22999661982 (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.
- benin.westernunionoffice@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Alvern Wentzel." <mtu@mongol.net>
Reply-To: <benin.westernunionoffice@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 08:28:02 -0700
Subject: Western Union Special Bonus

Attention: My Dear

Information reaching us from our corporate headquarters now, states
that you only have 48hours to effect payment for the activation of your
MTCN to enable you cash up your first payment of Us$6,500.00 from your
total fund since you are finding it difficult to make this payment we
have decided that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you
have for the activation fee since you are not able to come up with the
required sum time is of the essence here.You are to pay what ever you
have for the activation fee.

we will activate your MTCN upon receipt of this payment here is the
payment for the Us$6,500.00 with the name of our Assistant Accountant
officer but you can not pick it up because the chairman of the western
union say that before you can pickup that money you must pay any amount
you have at hand out of listed Amount bellow,CONTACT HEAD
OFFICE ON ( benin.westernunionoffice@yahoo.com ) Tell : +22999661982
Remember that you can not pick it up the money due to it has not
activated and it will be released once you send the activation fee of
any Amount you have at hand out of the listed amount.

First Name: Stephen
Last Name: Chilufya
MTCN:7832422540
Text Question: Motto
TextAnswer: Best
AMOUNT -----$6,500.00USD

Be informed that you will have to pay the balance sum of your
activation fee upon cashing up of your first payment of $6,500.00 USD,
also I am using this medium to inform you that failure to pay the
balance sum will leave us with no option but to deactivate your MTCN of
which you will and can never cash up the balance sum I want you to send
the activation fee with the information bellow,So use this name and
Address of our Accountant officer to send any Amount you have at hand
out of listed amount bellow,

1.Receiver Name:...Vitus Obinna Nnatuanya
2.Country:.........Benin Republic.
3.city:............72 Tunde Motors, Cotonou
4.Text Question:....Motto
5.Text Answer:...........Best
6.Sender Name ......
7.MTCN:.............
8.Sender Country......
Amount Sent...........

Amount you Sent $58.00 USD , $77.00, 64.00 $95.00 or $108.00 send us
the MTCN number immediately you send the money and immediately we
confirm the transfer fee we will send you the first receipt of your
$6500:00 today and not tomorrow.

Best Regards.

Mr.John Williams.
Managing Director

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam