419 scam: officialuser <officeconsult106@rediffmail.com> Information notice,Beneficiary:Esteemed-

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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:

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. )
- ",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 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.
- westernunionmoney.money@national-champs.com (National-champs; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: officialuser <officeconsult106@rediffmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 14:59:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Information notice,Beneficiary:Esteemed-

Information notice,Beneficiary:Esteemed-

Welcome you from Western Union Money Transfer Head office Benin Republic,we are using this medium to update you of the New Development and Resolution that was passed this morning,with the All representing Embassy here in Benin Republic included the UN Secretary General with the America president and England President representative,first meeting with the UN Secretary General after his mission to Africa.

The UN Secretary General has mandated us to effect your payment without any further delay,in his inaugurate speech to us on Monday,it was agreed that you will henceforth be beneficiary of $12,000,000,00,( Twelve Millions USD only.This is too commensurate his position now as the UN Secretary General and in the on-going Re-Branding of our great Nation.

You are now requiring to sending back with a copy of your either passport photograph,international passport or driver's license.In receipt of the above with a payment of $180.00usd,for funds payment release order,we shall commence the documentation leading to the payment to you within two working days and our accredited Western Union Office in your city country will contact you for final payment at once.

This time you will receive your payment from your local western union money transfer over there will pay the total fund at once,not by installment because we will issue to you the covering document to present to any nearby western union money transfer in your locality.Be also inform that after $180,payment require for documentation as the said amount will cover your document needed.Do not hesitate to comply with this directive as there is no times to waste and there are other beneficiaries to be attended.Get back to us with the details requested above for further proceedings.I also advice that you comply to us once just made the payment total amount of $180,to enable us quick response and services to you.

I assure you that everything is going to get better from now on, congratulations once again because I know you must have gone a long way to get your funds but has failed in recent times or for reasons of dealing with the wrong and fraudulent impostors.You will need to send the required payment through western union by our accountant officer name as follow .contact information reference email Westernunionmoney.Money@National-Champs.com

Receiver Name :Morgan Sarah.
Address:Cotonou Benin Republic .
MTCN :_______________
Test Question_Western
Answer_Union
Amount_$180.

Get back to enable us furnish you with the payment details as soon you make the payment because your transaction is available to pay at once now but you can not receiver it till the fee for the covering document received here and the documents and CODE NO will send to you.Your response expected.

Thanks,and I wish you good luck
Mr James Jonathan
Director,Western Union Money Transfer.
Tel 229-98-142-735
Email_ Westernunionmoney.Money@National-Champs.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam