419 scam: "Mrs. Linda Jones." <ihope@ark.ocn.ne.jp> YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED NOW!!!

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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:
- "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. )
- "required 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. )
- "money gram" (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 states 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)
- "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.
- +22999485483 (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.
- riamoneytransferfunds@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Linda Jones." <ihope@ark.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Linda Jones." <riamoneytransferfunds@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:00:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED NOW!!!

REMITTANCE INTERNATIONAL BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU
RIA MONEY TRANSFER WORLDWIDE
Rue 1171 Isiokwe Road, Cotonou Benin Republic.
Office Tele#: +22999485483
E-MAIL:( riamoneytransferfunds@yahoo.fr )

Dear Customer,

According to the instruction passed to this R.I.A Money Transfer
Department from the office Governor of the
Central Bank Benin, A total sum of $3.500,000.00 (Three Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) has been instructed to be
paid to you.

According to the explanations made, the Central Bank and Government, have
decided to take over the issue of your transfer to save you from all wire
transfer problems you were facing previously.This is to help us check-mate
all the Fraudulent activities going on here in West Africa at large. You
shall be paid bit by bit until your total sum is completely received right
from the Counter of any R.I.A Money Transfer closest to you.

We have been asked to release to you a total of US$6,500.00 in every five
Hours (5hours) until the funds is completely paid out, as that is the
maximum limit we are legally allowed to pay in a particular transaction.

After the failure in the transfer of your fund through other means which
may have been made impossible by the European, American or British high
commission and other bodies, I was ordered from the office of the
President and the Central Bank Of Benin Republic to make your payment
swiftly via this medium, you will be receiving $6,500
usd every five hours starting from today. Provide your full receivers
names for the payment and an activation
fee of $6,500 only to get your payment files activated so that we will
start sending your hourly payment as agreed.

The required fee of $150.00 should be sent through R.I.A Money Transfer or
money gram. Upon the receipt of the $75.00 your payment files will be
activated to enable you receive your first installment payment of $6,500
immediately. Send the $150.00 usd payment information to us through the
above email address.

Note: You can not be able to start picking up the money until your Name is
activated to the system.

Here Is The Information Which You Will Use To Send The Required Fee Of
$150.00 usd Via western union or money gram money Transfer.

The Receivers Information For The $150.00 as follows:

Receivers name:---- Mike Idigo
Receivers Country: Benin Republic
City:-------Cotonou
Text Question:------What Color?
Answer:-----------Green
Amount:----------$150.00
MTCN#------------------
Sender's name:-------------
Sender's Country name:----------------------

Immediately we receives the payment, we shall activate your payment files
and start sending your payments.
Call immediately on this direct phone Office:+22999485483 for more Details
and directives. Congratulate once again.

Regards,
Mr.John Lucas.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam