419 scam: "Mr. Inocent johnson" <josephleon409@gmail.com> WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE

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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Inocent johnson" <josephleon409@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion1432@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2021 22:56:52 -1000
Subject: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE
BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU
Mr. Inocent johnson

Hello Dear, Sir/Madam,

How are you today, this is to bring you good deliver that you will receive
your fund if you no get your fund via western union since you contact them ,
this is your opportunity to be happy to receive all your fund you spend through
western union if you believe us here ? I write to inform you that we have
already sent you $4000.00 usd dollars through Western union as we have been
given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $4.5
Million USD,via western union by this government.

I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone
but you did not pick up my calls through out that yesterday even this morning.
Now,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up
the $4000.00 usd to enable us send another $4000.00 usd today as you know we
will be sending you only $4000.00 usd per day.

And it was agreed that you will pay the sum of $50 before they will release the
payment to you.Please pick up this information and run to Western Union to pick
up the$4000.00 usd and call Director of Opration,MRS ROSE JOHNSON, because he
is the person in charge for your payment so that he can send you another
payment today,or email the Bank Him once you picked up the $4000.00 USD today.
Here is the western union information to pick up the $4000.00; which you will
be receiving your payment $4000.00 Us Dollars immediately you sent them their
transfer charge of $50 and it will serve as re-confirmation of your file
payment from the office in charge.

So you are to re-confirm to them the below information:
Your. Receiver-----------
Your. Country------------
Your. Address ----------
Your. City---------------
Your. Tel----------------
Your. Test question------
Your. Answer-------------
Your. Passport-----------
Your. Email Address------
Your. Password-----------

Here Is The Payment information of your first payment that has been transfer
but it's still on hold till you end the transfer charge so you can track it now
and confirm that it's available for pick up then once you send the transfer
charge today, we will release it immediately to enable you pick it today.

Hear is the payment information that we send you today
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):7193813188
MTCN #-------------------------7193813188
SENDERS FIRST NAME.....BRIAN K.
SECOND NAME..............WILLIAMS
AMOUNT...................$4,000
TEST QUESTION:.......HOW LONG?
ANSWER: ...........24HOURS

You can log in to western union website with this link to check out your
transfer https://wumt.westernunion.comThisis the payment information below you
will user to make the payment of $50 USD,

Receiver name.........PAUL LOLK

LOCATION CITY---------COTONOU
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION-------------DO
ANSWER-----------------JOY
AMOUNT--------------$50
SENDER NAME---------

Be advise that the $50 is a compulsory as they told me that is only money you
will pay until you receive your payment completely I am waiting for your call
once you pick up this $4000.00 usd,Please email me your direct telephone number
because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.

Mr. Inocent johnson

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE
BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam