419 scam: "Mr John Williams." <david19982001@yahoo.com> GOOD NEWS,PICK UP YOUR FUND BY WESTERN UNION.

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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:
- "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)
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.
- +22999651453 (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.
- westernunion190@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr John Williams." <david19982001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernunion190@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 01:42:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD NEWS,PICK UP YOUR FUND BY WESTERN UNION.

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Attention Dear!!!
How are you today?I write to inform you that we have already sent
you $6500.00 usd dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate
to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $2.5Million USD,via
western union by this governemnt.I was calling your telephone number to give you
the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls through out that
yesterday even this morning.Now,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name
so that you will pick up the $6500.00 usd to enable us send another $6500.00 usd
today as you know we will be sending you only $6500.00 usd per day.and it was
agreed that you will pay the sum of $55 before they will realease the payment to
you.
Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up
the $6500.00 usd and call Director of Operation OJADI UDE because he is the
person incharge for your payment so that he can send you another
paymenttoday,phonelineMobile:+229-996-514-53,Email:(westernunion190@yahoo.com)
email Him once you picked up the $6500.00 USD today.Here is the western union
information to pick up the $6500.00; which you.
will be receiving your payment $6500.00 Us Dollars immediately you
sent them their transfer charge of $55 and it will serve as re-confirmation of
your file payment from the office in charge.
So you are to re-confirm to them
the below information,

Your. Receiver--------
Your. Country------
Your.
City-----------
Your. Tel----------
Your. Test question------
Your.
Answer-----------
Your.Passport--------

Here Is The Senders Information

Senders First Name: Agnes

Senders Second Name:Vanhoy
MTCN:344 921 5480
Text Question===To
who?
Answer=======You

Website:www.westernunion.com

And We Are Waitng For You To Send The $55 Today

RECEIVER------------- PIUS
AKWUOBI
LOCATION
CITY---------COTONOU-BENIN
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN
TEXT
QUESTION--HOW
LONG?
ANSWER-----------TODAY
AMOUNT--------------$55.Only

Be advise that the $55 is a compulsory as they told me that is only
money you will pay until you receive your payment completely I am waiting for
your call once you pick up this $6500.00 usd,Please email me your direct
telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for
the informations.
Regards
Mr John Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam