419 scam: "Mrs. Maria Midombo." <grinovero@arnet.com.ar> Good Day

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- +22999221908 (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.
- customerservice342@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maria Midombo." <grinovero@arnet.com.ar>
Reply-To: <customerservice342@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:30:58 -0300
Subject: Good Day

--
Attn; Recipient,

This is to inform you that your fund compensations $200.000.00 has been
released now after our finally meeting

today with International Monetary Fund and United Nations and We have
concluded to effect your
payment through western union today to avoid any delay.

They will be sending you $4,000.00 daily until the $200,000.00 is
completely transferred to you accordingly.

Though, Blessing Obi the western union agent has sent $4,000.00 in your
name already today.

So right now this is your first payment of $4000 dollars here to pick
it up
right now to any part of western

union office in your country but still on hold because your payment
files
is not yet
activated.okay,

Below your first payment details to pick up dollars today,
MTCN NO#: --------1047395860
Sender's First Name:------- Blessing
Sender's Last Name:------Obi
Amount's $4000.00

Now contact Western union Director:Director;Pastor David Ike Western
Union
Email:customerservice342@hotmail.com

Tel:+229-99221908

NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name and
you
can only pay them $58.00 for the

activation fee of your inheritance payment file $200.000.00 to prevent
illegal transfer of your funds.

Here is the information you will used to send the $58.00 to them
through
Western Union Money Transfer to pick up

your first payment $4,000.00 now.

Receiver's name______Chinedu Ilochi
Country ___________Benin Republic.
City=== _____________Cotonou
Text Question== _____God
Answer==__________ is good
Amount=___________$58

Then after you send them $58.00, tell Dr.David Ike to activate your
payment
files and release the payment

information for $4,000.00,Please, do not forget to update me as soon as
you
receive this payment today.

Call the western union Director now Dr.David Ike Tel(+229-99221908) ask
him
how long it will take you to receive

your first payment $4,000.00 after you send
the $58.00 for the activation fee today.

Regards
Mrs. Maria Midombo.
Ministry Of Finance Agent Notification

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam