419 scam: MIS LISA THOMAS <oceanicbank79@yahoo.fr> YOUR (M.T.C.N): 4417478900 IS AVAILABLE TO PICK TODAY,

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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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22968367034 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: MIS LISA THOMAS <oceanicbank79@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: MIS LISA THOMAS <w.uni1@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:45:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR (M.T.C.N): 4417478900 IS AVAILABLE TO PICK TODAY,

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD , COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNIONÂ HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN .
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE : +229-68-367-034
WEBÂ http://www.westernunion.com/

DEARÂ ,

FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOAD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEYÂ FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM THE TOTAL FUNDS WHICH IS (1.5M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE FEES OF $40 TO $80 SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM..

OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ON WORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE IS FAKE.PLEASE VIEW OUR WEBSITE NOW :WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.

THEREFORE GO STRIAGHT NOW AND PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE FEES OF $40 TO $80 TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMEDÂ THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST $5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THEÂ BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE DEMAND WHICH IS ANYÂ AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH IS $40 TO $80 YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE.

Here is our tracking site: http://www.westernunion.ua/WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?method=load&countryCode=UA&languageCode=uk&pagename=HomePagÂ

(M.T.C.N): 4417478900
Senders First Name: Deina
Senders Last Name: Walsh
Amount: $5000.00
Question: In God
Answer: We Trust
(Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMEBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 48HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND WHATEVER YOU HAVE FROM $40 TO $80 TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

RECEIVER'S NAME:::: DEAN MOLU
COUNTRY:::::::: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY::::::: COTONOU
TEST QUESTION:::: HONEST
TEST ANSWER:: TRUST
SENDER'S NAME::::??
AMOUNT ...........ANY AMOUNT OF $40 TO $80
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER:::??

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOURÂ FIRST PAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW

REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS :+229-68-367-034Â MR,ERIC NZELUOÂ FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT,SO YOU HAVE TO USE THIS EMAIL TOÂ w.uni1@yahoo.comEMAIL THE WESTERN UNION
MIS LISA THOMAS.

GENERAL OPRATION MANAGER.
VITAL FINANCEWESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
IF YOU SEND THE AMOUNT CALL ME WITH THIS :+229-68-367-034

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam