419 scam: Mr John Okoh <markmrs.julie@yahoo.cn> TRACK YOUR PAYMENT ONLINE /MTCN 2549173955

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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- ",000,000" (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.
- +22999659383 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr John Okoh <markmrs.julie@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: unionwestern864@zbavitu.net
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2012 10:00:35 +0800 (CST)
Subject: TRACK YOUR PAYMENT ONLINE /MTCN 2549173955

TRACK YOUR
PAYMENT ONLINE /MTCN 2549173955

WESTERN UNION INSTALLMENT PAYMENT
ONLY.

CONGRATULATION SIR MADAM

WE HAVE TODAY MADE YOUR PAYMENT
AVAILABLE TODAY FOR PICK UP VIA WESTERN UNION AND YOU CAN TRACK AND CONFIRM
ONLINE OR VIA TELEPHONE BELOW,+229 99659383

YOU SHALL BE RECEIVING MTCN
NUMBERS FOR 10,000 USD EVERYDAY UNTIL YOUR FUNDS OF 2.5,000,000 USD IS PAID
COMPLETELY. You will pickup the below installment payment at any western union
office nearest to you with the below information's as soon as you send the
(FEES)OF $124 USD FOR endorsement & daily activation file fee
today.

LISTEN CAREFULLY YOU CAN NEVER RECEIVE THIS FUNDS UNTIL YOU
PROCEED AND MAKE HIS DEPOSIT OF $124 USD RIGHT AWAY BEFORE YOU CAN START
RECEIVING YOUR FUNDS SO KINDLY MAKE SURE YOU CALL THIS TOLL FREE NUMBER:+229
99659383 /MTCN 2549173955
Below is the Western Union Details for you
record,

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 2549173955
senders
first name : Alan
Senders last name : Ludemann
Amount : 5,000 USD
Text:
HOW MUCH
Answer: 5,000 USD
MTCN : 2549173955

PLEASE BE INFORMED
THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT WITH THIS MTCN NUMBER,BECAUSE
THIS 10,000 USD IS ON HOLD BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT PAID FOR THE DAILY ACTIVATION
FEES OF $124 USD,

The amount you will be receiving twice per day is
$10,000 usd Which will be Spited in 2 Place US$5000.00 In Each Transaction and
the MTCN number will be sending along with the Text Questions & Answers for
you to receive your fund through any Western Union Location in your Country. You
have been charged $124 US for Activation sending fees.

You should proceed
immediately and make the payment to enable us start process of your
fund.

Here is the payment information that you are to use in sending down
the $124 US By WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE.

Receiver's Name :
NWAKACHA CHINEME
Country Code: 229
Country: Benin
Test Question : IN
GOD
Test Answer : WE TRUST
Amount : $124 USD
Money Transfer MTCN
:

Kindly send a copy of the receipt or the Money Transfer MTCN number We
look forward to serving you better.

We wish to inform you based on a lot
of junks mail flying over the internet and some people are using advantage to
collect account information from people on internet for fraudulent purpose, that
is while it was assigned and approved by International Monetary Fund (IMF) that
your payment will
come through Western Union Money Transfer system and also
your funds as been programmed to be release to you through western union, twice
a day, after collection.

Our Regards and we are sorry for the
inconvenience please bears with us. Thanks for your co-operation and Waiting to
hear from you soonest.

We look forward to serving you better.

Best
regards,
NAME: Mr John Okoh
Western Union Payments
FOREIGN OPERATION
MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE COTONOU
BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam