419 scam: MR Ken John <rmbrown1945@att.net> DEAREST CUSTOMER,

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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)
- "west_uniontbt6@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "west_uniontbt6@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: MR Ken John <rmbrown1945@att.net>
Reply-To: west_uniontbt6@w.cn
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:40:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DEAREST CUSTOMER,

Western Union®

Welcome to Western Union

Send Money Worldwide

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA

ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.

WEB:http://site.www. westernunion.com/

Contact Email: west_uniontbt6@w.cn

DEAREST CUSTOMER,

I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DR BEN JOHNSON HAS ORDERED THAT THE ONLY MONEY YOU WILL SEND NOW IS JUST $45 US DOLLARS SO THAT WE WILL START SENDING TO YOU YOUR $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY UNTILL YOUR TOTAL FUND OF ONE MILLION TWO HUNDREND AND FOURTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS IS PAID TO YOU AND IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY BY SENDING THIS FEE WITHIN TRY DAYS OF THIS ORDER,YOUR TOTAL FUND WOULD BE CONFISCATED AND IT WILL BE TRANSFERED TO GOVERNMENT PURSE,HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE FINAL ORDER.

SO I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SEE THAT YOU SEND THE $45 US DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY AFER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL TODAY SO THAT WE WILL FINALISE EVERY THING TO TODAY,BY TOMORROW,YOU WILL START TO BE RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY,

BELOW ARE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE $55 US DOLLARS OK,

NAME.............. NZELUO SIMEON

COUNTRY.........BENIN REPUBLIC

CITY................COTONOU

QUESTION........TRUST

ANSWER............PAYMENT

AMOUNT...........$45.00.

MTCN............

AND E MAIL US THE PAYMENT INFORMATION HERE IN OUR WESTERN UNION OFFICE E MAIL ADDRESS =

EMAIL: west_uniontbt6@w.cn

WE ARE WAITING TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT INFORMATIONS IMMEDIATELY DO IT,

REGARDS.

Mr Ken John.

FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER

WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 303)

Western Union®

Welcome to Western Union

Send Money

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam