419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <kobamo-22.@festa.ocn.ne.jp> Attention

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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "million us 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)
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22968968895 (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.
- carlosmark02@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <kobamo-22.@festa.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Carlos Mark <westerntransfergoodlive@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2016 08:17:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987
Tel: +229 689 688 95

Attention

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Office,We wish to inform you that the IMF have release your fund sum of $12,5million US dollars issued on your email,the money was deposited with us in this Office By IMF Director,we shall be sending the money to you everyday $5000.00usd 1st payment and another $5000 usd 2nd payment until we complete the total payment.

We are very glad to inform you that we have processed your first payment of $5000.00usd via western union money transfer and another $5000 usd via money gram,but you can not pick up the 2 payments of the $10,000 usd except you pay for your fund file reactivation fee which is any Amount of your choice which you have to send through western union or money gram.

For the transfer charge,we are going to take away our transfer charge from your fund.but the Reactivation fee must be a meaningful Amount of your choice in($--USD)with the information we gave you below,then after confirming the payment information of Any meaningful Amount of your choice for the reactivation of your fund file, we shall Reactivate your fund file and release your first $5000.00usd and 2nd payment of $5000 usd full Detail to enable you pick them up and get back to us for the 3rd payment,As you can see here is the MTCN Number of your first and 2nd payment which we transferred for you today to pick up today,track them with Western union and money gram website by you self to confirm that your payments are available for you to pick up at any western union and money gram office of your choice in your country The most important warning,Track the MTCN by your self to confirm that it is available for you to pick and to enable you not to be confused by any body ,Don't try to pick up the 2payments without sending the Reactivation fee because more you are trying to pick up the 2payments without sending the Reactivation fee is the more you are corrupting the mtcn making it to be worst because the payment can not be found on your name because your fund file is not yet reactivated.

YOUR FIRST WESTERN UNION PAYMENT OF $5000.USD.

Copy this western union website and pest to track the MTCN:(https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?)
1)Senders 1st Name==== Holly
2)senders 2nd name====Waldon
3)MTCN Number=======7298423178
4)Amount=============$5000.00 USD.
5)Text question=======GOD
6)Answer==============WE TRUST

YOUR SECOND MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OF $5000 USD

Copy this money gram website to track your MTCN (https://secure.moneygram.com/track)
SENDER FIRST NAME?....WILLEM
SENDER LAST NAME.....VAN DEN BERG
TEST QUESTION?IN GOD
TEST ANSWER?..WE TRUST
AMOUNT ???..$5,000 USD
MTCN????40964408 (Available for pick up by receiver)

Note that on your reply to this massage make sure you send the full information Remember that the full details you can use to pick up this first and 2nd payments will be send to you once we receive the MTCN of your fund file reactivation fee any meaningful amount of your choice on our phone for some security reason +229 689 688 95, You have to treat it as urgent by reconfirming your full information to us immediately you receive this massage to enable us start the process of your Reactivation and for 3rd transfer immediately.

1.Your Full Name......
2.Your Address........
3.Your Tel Number.....
4.Occupation..........
5.Country.............
6.City................
7.Age.................
8.Text Question.......
9.Your Answer.........
10.Your Next of kin...

Here are the information for you to go to western union or money gram to send the Reactivation fee $-- usd, don't forget that you have to settle for your fund file Reactivation before we can give the full information of your first and 2nd payment of $10,000.00 usd,we await to receive the above information from your so that we can direct you where to send the Reactivation fee which is only delay now, Kindly use this information to send Your fund file Reactivation fee any amount of your choice.

Receiver Name:=== JAMES NUDU
Country: =========BENIN REPUBLIC
City: =============COTONOU
Test Question: ====A.
Test Answer: ======B.
Amount to send: ====($--usd).00.
Senders Name:.....?
Mtcn Number:......?

We looks forward to receive the Fund file reactivation fee together with your full information to enable us reactivate your fund file and release this first and 2nd payment of $10,000.00usd for you to pick them up and get back to us for the 3rd payment ok. Call Tel: +229 689 688 95
Email :carlosmark02@yahoo.com
Get Back ASAP.

My Regards
Mr.Carlos Mark
Western Union Director Paraku Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam