419 scam: "MR, Frank Edwin" <"www."@circus.ocn.ne.jp> WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU

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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:
- "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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.
- +22999623695 (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.
- western_union_office88@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR, Frank Edwin" <"www."@circus.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR, Frank Edwin" <western_union_office88@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2017 12:16:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU

ATTENTION

Welcome you from Western Union Money Transfer Head office Benin Republic, we are using this medium to update you of the New Development and Resolution that was passed today,The board of Power Authority of Justice Court Order Benin Republic have givens us instruction to notify your payment inherited funds of (US$12,000.000,00),After the meeting held on your behalf with order, This is to notify you about the latest development concerning your payments total sum of $12,000, 000, 00, which left into our custody, beside,the Power Authority of Justice Court Order has signed your funds to be starting transferring into your designated address without any further delay.Be inform that we Western Union Headquarter Benin Republic has been giving writing to keep posted for all our customer their name listed reference and your name is among,the purpose of this urgent information is to use it help all people failed into victims,meanwhile avoid delaying your fund total sum of$12,000,000,00,you need to send us total amount of $135,due to you fund transfer access code,before starting sending your payment

For more than 150 years, the familiar signs of Western Union have stood as a trusted symbol for connecting friends, family and businesses around the world. Known today as an innovator in financial services, The Western Union Company has become an industry leader in global money transfer with over 410,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories,From the
roots of our signature telegram business, we expanded and evolved our services in 1871 to offer electronic money transfer. Today, Western Union offers money order, money transfer, payment and prepaid services. While the telegram is a memory, we continue a long history of connecting people around the corner and around the globe with financial services that are
fast, reliable and convenient.

Further more, you need to send the total sum of $135,00,right away to use it pursuing your fund transfer access code,because,all the Control numbers information, which you would be using to pick all your fund has been registered reference, because If you calculate what we have putting in, will know that you have gone too far to quit, After the payment sum of $135.00, you will start receiving your money every minutes or hours of your choice, $4,500 by western union until your total amount finished. More notification, you needed to fill reference form. Avoid releasing the paper into the wrong hands.

Your Full Name____
Your Full Address____
Tel________
Country_____
State_______
Zip Code____

This is the i9nformation you will use to send the fee. Use our western union office or money gram and get back to us with the slip.

Receiver's name_____PAUL....CHIKA
Country______Benin Republic.
City_______Cotonou
Text Question______When

Amount______$135
SENDER'S NAME ____
MTCN ____
call me now +22999623695
The moment we receive the payment of $45 we will forward you the paper to be picking up your fund one by one, $4,500.00, for each MTCN, we are looking forward to hearing from you soonest.

BEST REGARD
MR, Frank Edwin
Email: (western_union_office88@yahoo.com>)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam