419 scam: Arlene Boni <boniarlene@yahoo.com> From Mrs. Boni Arlene.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "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.
- +22998358668 (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.u2610@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Arlene Boni <boniarlene@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barrmikeike_mike@sify.com
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:50:24 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mrs. Boni Arlene.

Attention,
Â
This is to notify all of you about the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in our custody onhold,which yours are

inclusive Besides,Â where you given a numerous bills in order to receive your payment of which we didnâ€™t hear from you for sometime

now.......
Â
Hence, our Western Union Payment Department in Republique Du Benin is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers

that are having their paymentÂ in our custody. In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $75.

00 to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody.
Â
We the Western Union urgent remmitting office have sent your full compesation of ($950,000.00)usd to you through western union, you

will be receiving $5000 daily at $2,500 per transaction.. So Contact our Director Mr. Ikebudi Eddwina via this email ( western.u2610@sify.com ) with the MTCN numbers of $75 and ask him to give you the first payment information of your first $5000.
Â
Phone number+229-98358668.
Send the $75 to Mr. Ikebudi Eddwina . country... Republique Du Benin, City ..Cotonou.
Â
The moment he receive the payment of $75 he will release the first payments informations to you and you will pick up the money and

he will send you another money until your amount some of ( $950,000.00)usdÂ is finished
Â
Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you and have to comply and your fundsÂ will be transfer to your destinated address

immediately. But remember that after (24 hours) you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds to Government Fund, to

aviod problem or we will cancel the payment for this year untill next yearÂ because this year is not like last year.
Â
Regards
Mrs. Boni Arlene
Transfer Unit.Â Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam