419 scam: "ECO Bank Benin Republic." <westernunoin554@gmail.com> MTCN: __________

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22999659383 (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.
- union.western9275@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ECO Bank Benin Republic." <westernunoin554@gmail.com>
Reply-To: union.western9275@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2016 00:10:01 -0700
Subject: MTCN: ___________#70566866xx

--
Hello my dear, how are you today hope you are fine?

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5,200.00. Unite
State Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate
to transfer your full compensation payment the total sum of
$4,500,000.00 (Four Million and Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars) via western union by this Government,

I was been trying to send you an E-mail since yesterday for the
Western Union payment Details but the message keep returning back I
don't know it really know why, therefore I try to re-send the e-mail
to you again today with all the Western Union payment information for
you to pick up the money from any outlet Western Union around you,
such as MTCN and Sender Name so that you will pick up this $5,200.00.
United State Dollars to enable us send another $5,200.00. Tomorrow as
you know we will be sending you only$5,200.00 United State Dollars per
day.

Please copy all this information and run to any nearest Western Union
to pick up the $5,200.00. And call me back to send you another payment
tomorrow, my direct phone line is +22999659383 Manager: Dr. Gorge Ani.
call or E-mail Him(union.western9275@yahoo.com) once you picked up
this $5,200.00. United State Dollars today,

Here is the Western Union information to pick up the $5,200.00. United
State Dollars

MTCN: ___________#70566866xx

Sender Name: ______ Tony Morba

Text Question:___________trust

Answer:___________________HONESTY

Amount: ______________________ $5,200.00. United State Dollars

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5,200.00. Please
E-mail me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling
you once we send any payment for the information. Note we really need
your current direct phone so that once we make any payment we shall
call you for the MTCN.

Yours in Service
Mr. Muzaffar Khan
ECO Bank Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam