419 scam: "Mr. John Orton" <tangmunaistore@yahoo.com> READ CAREFULLY AND RESPOND,

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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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.
- +22998822378 (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.
- wester.nunion_transf@hotmail.co.uk (Hotmail, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Orton" <tangmunaistore@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: wester.nunion_transf@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 16:30:48 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: READ CAREFULLY AND RESPOND,

Dear valuable client,
How are you? Hope alright,

This is to inform you that this office was instructed to pay your fund $4.8 Million Dollars by America security leading team and America representative embassy between now until the fund completely transferred to you, please note you will receiving sum of $5,000 Dollars.

However be informed that we have send the sum of $5000 Dollars this morning to avoid cancellation of your payment you have only four hours to call this office upon the receipt of this email the maximum amount you will be receiving per day starting from today is $5000 and the Money Transfer Control Number of today is below.

Sender's Name; = James Willson
MTCN: 6300217288
Text Question:How long
Answer: 24hour
Amount: USD$5,000.00

Once again be advice to reconfirm your information such as; Your
state;;;;;;;;
Country;;;;;;;;
Address;;;;;;
Receiver name;;;;;;;;;;;
Mobile phone;;;;;;;;;

Furthermore you advised to call us as the instruction was passed that within 10 hours without hearing from you. Count your payment cancelled. Number to call is below listed manager director office of release order: +229-988-223-78 e-mail addresses ( wester.nunion_transf@hotmail.co.uk )

Regards,
Mr. John Orton
OPREATION MANAGEMENT COTONOU WESTERN UNION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam