419 scam: "Benjamin S. Obih" <sarajane524@verizon.net> QUICKLY CONTACT THE APPROVED WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT OF ($5,000.USD)

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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. )
- "registration 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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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.
- +22998595688 (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.
- w_unionpaycentre@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Benjamin S. Obih" <sarajane524@verizon.net>
Reply-To: w_unionpaycentre@sify.com
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:18:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: QUICKLY CONTACT THE APPROVED WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT OF ($5,000.USD)

ECOWAS COMMISSION
Republic of Benin

Attn: Dear Beneficiary,

Your government accredithed attorney for your payment.

THE GOVERNMENTS Resolved that your Inheritance/contract and compensation Fund, Has released on a special method of payment by WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. Which shall be transferring to you on an installmental bases of $5000 per each day untill the whole ($1.5Million) is completly transfered to you . You are now charged to reconfirm your drawee deatils.

Your name.,address.,phone number.,and your occupation.,Send the required details to the Agent incharge of your payment Mr.Ken Terry at (w_unionpaycentre@sify.com) or call +229- 985-95-688 NOTE:that You will certainly pay a ($380.only) for beneficiary payment registration fee as you will be directed on how to effect the fee by the Agent incharge of your inheritance fund. Do update us as soon as you drawn your first and second payment.

And no money shall deduct from your main fund ($1.5 Million USD) this is to keep an accurate account of your payments and to avoids hoax of the w/u agents Hope you know the routine of withdrawing money via W/U ?. WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER shall supply you with some ten digit numbers (mtcn) money control numbers ,text question and answer , the amount and your address as a drawee and you shall withdraw the money from western union locations nearest to you.

Best Regards/Wishes

Comrade.Benjamin S.Obih( Activist)
EOWAS COMMISSION.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam