419 scam: "Mrs. Vivian Douglas" <time_good94@yahoo.pt> FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

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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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "mrs.vivian-dougals@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998807967 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Vivian Douglas" <time_good94@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Vivian Douglas" <mrs.vivian-dougals@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:15:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
NATIONAL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
SENATE HOUSE - UPPER CHAMBERS WUSE DISTRICT, COTONOU BENIN
Our Ref: FGN /SNT/STB, TEL, +229 98807967

ATTN,

I have to inform you again, that we are not playing over this, I know my
reason for the continuous sending of this notification to you, the fact
is that you can't seem to trust any one again over this payment For what
you have been in cantered in many months ago, but I want you to trust me,
I cannot scam you for $63 it is for bank processing of your payment, the
fees of $63 is clearly written to you before, I did not invent the bill
to defraud you of $63 it is an official bank payment processing fee, and
the good part of this, is that you will never, ever be disturbed again
over any kind of payment,

this is final, and the forms from there becomes effective once we submit
your payment application processing fee and pay the form fee of $63 I
don't want you to loose this fund this time, because you may never get
another such good opportunity,

the federal government is keen and very determined to pay your overdue
debts, this is not a fluke, I would not want you to loose this fund out
of ignorance, I will send you all the documents as soon as bank payment
processing fee is paid, you have to trust me, you will get your fund,
find a way to get $63 you will not loose it, instead it will bring your
financial break through,

find the money and send it to our bursary. The reason why am sending you
this because i want you to receive your USD1.5M immediately we are trying
to round up for this payment program.

Here Is The Payment Information Through Western Union Finally my advice
to you is not to abandon this transaction because of the requirement of
($63)

Receivers Name: Samuel Ego
Address: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question: Good
Answer: News
MTCN__

send all the details of the MTCN direct to this

mrs.vivian-dougals@yandex.com
Yours in service
Mrs. Vivian Douglas
+229 98807967Â Â Â Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam