419 scam: "MR, JOHN DON" <kerrykeister@gmail.com> MTCN...:3012-0962-16

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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. )
- "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.
- +22999158347 (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.
- uwestern98@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR, JOHN DON" <kerrykeister@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uwestern98@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:44:26 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: MTCN...:3012-0962-16

ATTENTION:

This is let you know that your first
payment has been released today with your MTCN Number it was sent by
((Laura Lamp)) and your fund was brought to my desk because the
director of the

WESTERN UNION MONEY transfer said that
they should divert your fund to the government treasury account just
because that you can not pay the transfer fees, director of western
union said that you refuse to send your transfer change fee, As result
of the information we got I told them to wait until I hear from you
today so that i will know the reason why you rejected such amount of
money $1.7m which is your over due inheritance payment just because
of transfer fee.

But the reason why i sent you this
email now is that you still have the chance to claim your fund if you
could send the$70 because it is your release other fees and keeping
fees, so you have to go now and send the 70usd now you can be able to
pick up your MTCN number, if not they will have power over your fund
by Friday morning and am very sorry if you failed as this is the last
chance .you can take it to any western union or you track it with
www.western union .com to confirm .

Here is your payment information

SENDERS FIRST NAME:Joseph

SENDERS SURNAME:Nwabunwanne

SENT FROM: BENIN

MTCN...:3012-0962-16

QUESTION: WHEN

TEST ANSWER: NOW

AMOUNT: $500.00 USD ONLY

You see it?

Please here is the information in the
name of my messenger to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember
that i have done my best for you and I will make sure that your fund
gets to your hand immediately.

I want you to call us if you send the
money to him so that i will call him , use this number to call us +229
99158347 ok do it now

Receivers Name:..SAM CHIKA

Country/... Benin-Republic

City address is Cotonou

Test Question:.. Blue

Answer:.. Blue

Amount: ...$70

MTCN NUMBER....

Send it to me for easy collection, the MTCN control number, amount sent, name and address of sender.( uwestern98@yahoo.fr )

MOBLE TELE +229 99158347

Thanks

MR, JOHN DON.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam