419 scam: Rev Jude Anni <woffice734@yahoo.com.au> Attention My Dear Friend:

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- +22999135103 (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.
- westernunionoffice617@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Rev Jude Anni <woffice734@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: Rev Jude Anni <westernunionoffice617@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 00:55:07 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention My Dear Friend:

Â Attention My Dear Friend:
This is to inform you that this office was instructed to pay your fund $2.5Million U.S.A Dollars between now until end of DECEMBER 2014, per day you will receive the sum of $6,000 Dollars,However be informed that we have send the sum of $3000 Dollars this morning to avoid cancellation of your payment, you have only six hours to call this office upon the receipt of this email, the maximum amount you will be receiving per day starting from today is $6000 in two different payments and the Money Transfer Control Number of today is below,Federal high court requested you to pay $100 activation fee today so that you can pick up the $3000 today.

We have today transferred your first US$3000.00 available for yourpickup at any western union office in your City, but still on hold dueto the unpaid activation fee of $100USD which you supposed to paybefore your transfer will be release for pickup.
NOTE: THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $100 USD IS THAT WETRIED TO DEDUCT THE ACTIVATION FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTERADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN REPUBLIC TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVERYOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BEDEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING,CRIMINALACT AND FOR SECURITY REASONS.
For your convenience check your first $3000.00 installment transfer online at on the space provided at https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global clicks TRACKING and fill the bellowinformation website.
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) :# 0741370142Sender First Name:JasonÂ Sender Last Name: CallahanMTCN:.... 0741370142TEST QUESTION:How longTEST ANSWER:NowAMOUNT:....$3000.00
YOU REQUIRE TO SEND $100 TODAY THROUGH WESTERN UNION THAT IS ONLY PAYMENT YOU WILL PAY.
Receiver Name ------: SIMEON EKWELocation-------------- cotonouCountry--------------- Benin republic West AfricaTest Question---------------How longÂ Test Answer-----------------NowMtcn: --------------Amount----------$100Sender Name :-----------------------Furthermore you advised to call us as the instruction was passed that within 10 hours without hearing from you. Count your payment canceled. Number to call is below listed Manager Director Office Rev Jude Anni for activation after paying the $100 today : +229 99135103.E-mail addresses : ( westernunionoffice617@yahoo.com.au)
Rev Jude AnniD/Line +229 99135103

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam