419 scam: "Dr.Frank Okechi" <aserifou@otenet.gr> 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:

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. )
- "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.
- +22996993998 (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.
- onlinetransfer70@accountant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Frank Okechi" <aserifou@otenet.gr>
Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2017 14:01:58 -0700
Subject: Dear Customer

Dear Customer,

You are welcome to Western Union Money Transfer head office Benin
Republic. Am Mr.Peter Ebuka by name, the new director of Western Union
Foreign Operation, I resumed work last 2 weeks Monday 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 $10.8usd Million 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,

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
$5,000.00 to be received by you.

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 to below
following information and get back to me with scan copy of the Western
Union slip OK?

Receiver's Name............... HENRY EDOCHIE
City, Country.... Cotonou, Benin Republic
Text Question..........When
Answer.............Now
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 that you receive it all OK?

Be rest assured that I will activate your daily installment account and
post your first $5,000 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 +229 96993998 for further urgent attention, as we
are here to serve you better. Thank You For Banking With
Us(onlinetransfer70@accountant.com)..

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Peter Ebuka
Managing Director
Western Union Foreign Operation

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam