419 scam: "Dr. Robert Johnson" <Johnson@wonder.ocn.ne.jp> Dear Customer,

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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. )
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (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 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.
- +22998216455 (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.
- wofficetransfer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Robert Johnson" <Johnson@wonder.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Robert Johnson" <wofficetransfer@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:29:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Customer,

Dear Customer,

You are welcome to Western Union Money Transfer head office Benin Republic. Am Dr. Robert Johnson by name, the new director of Western Union Foreign Operation, I resumed work last weeks Wednesday 7th of JAN 2015 and your daily transfer file was submitted as pending payment in our Bank and after my verification, I called the formal Accountant Officer in-charge of your payment to find out the reason why they are delaying your daily transfer and he explained that you was unable to activate your daily installment account.
However, I don't know your financial capability at this moment and it was the reason why I decided to help in this matter just to make it easy for you to start receiving your daily transfer and am sure to get some share sum of the money because I know that when you receive the total $2.5Million that you will definitely compensate me, I don't want you to lose this fund at this stage after all your efforts.

Most wise people prefer to use this medium western union money transfer now as the best and reliable means of transfer because of the scammers who uses the courier companies and bank to bank wire transfer to scam innocent people like you their hard earned money.

Kindly take control of yourself and leave everything to God because I know that from now on, you will be the one to say that our lord is good, so I will advice you to send me your direct phone number because I will text you the MTCN through SMS and attach other information and send through your email box, Sender name Sender$B!G(Bs address with Question and Answer including all documents involve in the transaction.

For this moment i will be very glad for your quick response by sending sum of $105 so that I will quickly do the needful and finalize everything within 1:43pm our local time here, I am giving you every assurance that as soon as i receive the $105 that i will activate your daily installment account and proceed with your first transfer of $7,000.00 before 1:43pm our local time because I will close once its 6:30pm.

Be aware that all verifications and arrangement involve in this transfer has being made in your favor. So I need your maximum co-operation to ensure that strictest confidence is maintained to avoid any further delay. Send the $105 through Western Union Money Transfer or money gram office to below following information and get back to me with scan copy of the MONEY GRAM OFFICE slip OK?

Receiver's Name............... EMMANUEL NNAMU
City, Country.... Cotonou, Benin Republic
Text Question..........105
Answer.............Only
Amount .......$105
MTCN............
Sender s name...
I felt pains after going through your payment file and found the reason why you have not start receiving your fund from this department and ready to do my utmost to make sure you receive it all OK?

Be rest assured that I will activate your daily installment account and post your first $7,000 USD for you to pick-up today as soon as we receive the activation fee from you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again should you require additional information or call (00229)98216455for further urgent attention, as we are here to serve you better. Thank You For Banking With Us..

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Robert Johnson
Managing Director
Email:(wofficetransfer@gmail.com )
Western Union Foreign Operation
elephone: 00229 98216455

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam