419 scam: "Mrs.Sandra Allen" <officefile001654@vodafone.it> WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION BONUS PAYMENT BENIN REPUBLIC.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "money gram" (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.
- +22998950263 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Sandra Allen" <officefile001654@vodafone.it>
Reply-To: western.u32@live.com
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:59:34 -0800
Subject: WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION BONUS PAYMENT BENIN REPUBLIC.

Receive Money Via Any Western Union Store Near You!

Attn :Beneficiary ;

This is to notify all our customers about the latest development concerning
all the payment that are left in our custody, which yours is inclusive
Besides, you were given a bill of $235,in order to receive your payment of
which we didn’t hear from you for sometime now. Hence, our Western Union is
now offering a Special BONUS for the Year worth of $650,000.00 dollars to
help all our customers that are having their payment in our custody due to
of prices.

In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the
sum of $95.00 to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody.
Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you and has to comply and your
funds shall be transfer to your designated address. But remember that after
(3DAYS) you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds to
Government Fund, to avoid problem or we will cancel the payment for this
year until next year because this year is not like last year. Again after
(THREE DAYS) We will enter A new project for the year and that is the reason
why we decided to help all our customers before we enter into the new
project. So be advise to send the $95.00 immediately so that we will
register your payment and for you to start receiving $4,500 as from
tomorrow. Reason why you are requested to pay this fee $95.00 is for
registration of your payment by Federal Minister of Finance.

Be inform that there is no time again for we to call any person on phone.
After the payment of $95.00 you will start receiving your money every day
$4,500 through Western Union and also $4,500 through money gram until the
full payment of $650,000.00 is completed. So what you will be receiving per
day is $4,500 and your total fund/amount to receive from us is $650,000.00
dollars, Your information is highly needed to us.

FILL THE BELOW SPACE.
Receiver name_______________
Country______________________
City__________________________
Tel___________________________
Test question________________
Answer______________________

Contact the Director with this information’s below:
Director Mr. Mark Abe
TEL:+229 989-50-263
EMAIL; western.u32@live.com

Send the money through Western Union or money gram Money Transfer with the
information below:

RECEIVER NAME:.........Nnamdi Anthony Chukwuemeka
CITY....................... Cotonou
COUNTRY............ Benin Republic
Text Question......Urgent
Answer...............Needed
Amount................$95.

The moment we receive the payment of $95 I will start releasing your payment
information’s of $4,500 to you until the total amount is completed.

HAVE NICE DAY,

BRANCH MANAGER
Mrs.Sandra Allen.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam