419 scam: Walter Banks <celica205@mx5.canvas.ne.jp> Money Reference Number MTCN::696-661-0881

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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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
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: Walter Banks <celica205@mx5.canvas.ne.jp>
Reply-To: wbanks728@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2022 17:39:05 +0300
Subject: Money Reference Number MTCN::696-661-0881

--
Money Reference Number MTCN::696-661-0881

Attention Beneficiary

Be informed that the sum of Five thousand dollars $5000.00USD has
already been sent to you via Western Union Money Transfer office as we
have been given the mandate to transfer your full overdue payment worth
a total sum of $4.8MillionUSD via western union by the Ministry of
Finance.

I tried contacting you to give you the necessary information to enable
you pick up your funds but I couldn't get through yesterday, so I
decided to email you the MTCN and senderâ€™s name so that you can pick up
the $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 by tomorrow.

As you know already that we will be sending you $5000.00 only per day
till you completely receive the total amount, meanwhile it was agreed
that you have to obtain a transfer clearance certificate and the charge
is sum of $230.00 before you can pick up your first payment of $5000 at
any agent location, do take note of this, that you have to pay the
$230.00 before picking up your first available payment.

Go to any western union office in your location to pick up the $5000.00
which is currently available and do try to contact me via WhatsApp:
+1(5793862398) as soon as you get this email as the only Operation
Manager in charge of your payment to carry out the transfer immediately,
and I will send you another payment tomorrow once you pick up the first
one.

Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00USD which
you will be receiving daily after you send the clearance certificate
payment of $230.00 to this office.

NOTE: That you cannot pick up these funds if the transfer clearance
certificate charges is not paid.

Track Your first payment of $5000 information by following the
instructions below.

Click Here: www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer
Your tracking number (MTCN) : 696-661-0881

Your payment is ready for pick up at any agent location but you can't do
that without the transfer clearance fee of $230.00. Therefore, I will be
waiting to hear from you with the clearance certificate payment of
$230.00 today.

Please confirm to me with your current transfer details as listed: Phone
number, Address, Copy of your ID card or driver's license.

Contact info: Mr. Walter Banks
Tel for WhatsApp : +15793862398
Thanks and may God Bless you.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam