419 scam: Secretary Goodlucky Williams <officemail1960@gmail.com> YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CALL TO CONFIRM @ +229-98679197

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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. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
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.
- +22998679197 (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.
- westernunion1190@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Secretary Goodlucky Williams <officemail1960@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion1190@sify.com
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:56:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CALL TO CONFIRM @ +229-98679197

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing that this mail finds you in an excellent condition of health with understandable heart as you go dawn the details of it. I am Prof Goodlucky Williams I was appointed as policy harmonization chairman on public debt West Africa a committee set up by West African Monitoring Institution (WAMI) under the able presidency. My office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions here in West African that is to tell you that I am committed to upholding and defending the constitution and laws of West African Monitoring Institution with the life people that has be a scammed victim as well as achieving a higher level of public safety and security through the prosecution of criminals in the state.

The purpose of the committee among other is to investigate, verify and settle all outstanding total pending payment owned and Records before me have revealed that your payment has not been effected as a result of official negligence as your fund has been identified either as ghost file, unclaimed deposits, and over-invoiced sum etc; this is due to many abnormalities had happened in the countries where some top official of the apex Banks are interested in your payment and they collaborate with impostors who are carrying a fake portfolios with levies misled and misguided about the position of your fund and having the opportunity to extort money from people that made it too longer up till date that explains why you receive different kinds of untrue emails and phone calls from different people everyday.

We have concluded to effect your payment of $2.5 M dollars(TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) through western union, but the maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from tomorrow is $7,000.00 daily until the funds is completely transferred. Kindly Contact Western union Agent:

MR.CHRIS MIKE
TEL: +229-98679197
Fax:::::::229663526
E-mail: westernunion1190@sify.com

Be inform that we have concluded all the necessary arrangement towards the release of your payment but due to the prevailing situation worldwide on cash movement and transfer of huge sum of money, your payment has since being made to you with our (WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER) AFFILIATED TO WORLD ASSOCIATIONS OF DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE BANK .Base on the information we received that has shown us that you are the truthfully beneficiary of this payment.

Though, Tony Woods sent $7,000.00 in your name today so contact Mr. Chris Mike and tell him to give you the Mtcn, sender name and question/answer to pick the $7,000.00. Pls let me know as soon as you received all your funds $2.5 M dollars Thank you. Send to him the below information ASAP.

1.YOUR FULL NAME ............................
.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.......................
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME.....................
4.TELE PHONE NUMBER......................
5.YOUR IDENTITY CARD......................
6.YOUR COUNTRY...............................
7.SEX.................................................
Considering the circumstances at hand, you are advice not to accept any E-mail telephone calls that does not come from this office in regards to your payment this is to forestall new effort towards a diversion of your payment.
Regards

Prof Goodlucky Williams

YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CALL TO CONFIRM @ +229-98679197

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam