419 scam: "BEN MAISON" <ben.maison@yahoo.com> FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

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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.
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. )
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.
- ben.maison@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BEN MAISON" <ben.maison@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 17:54:55 -0800
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, NIGERIA HEAD OFFICE
WEB:http://site.www. westernunion.com/
Contact Email: ben.maison@yahoo.com
Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987

Attention Beneficiary ,

GOOD NEWS!

I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MINISTER OF FINANCE Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga (Segun). HAS ORDERED THAT THE ONLY MONEY YOU WILL SEND NOW IS JUST $350 US DOLLARS SO THAT WE WILL START SENDING TO YOU YOUR $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL FUND OF ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($1,240,000.00) IS PAID TO YOU AND IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY BY SENDING THIS FEE WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THIS ORDER,YOUR TOTAL FUND WOULD BE CONFISCATED AND IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNMENT PURSE,HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE FINAL ORDER.
WE WANT TO SEND US THE RECEIVER'S INFORMATION WHICH WILL INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME,ADDRESS,TEXT QUETION AND ANSWER SO THAT WE CAN START THE TRANSACTION AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY.
SO I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SEE THAT YOU SEND THE $350 US DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL TODAY SO THAT WE WILL FINALIZE EVERY THING TO TODAY,BY TOMORROW,YOU WILL START TO BE RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY,
I KNOW YOU WILL BE SURPRISED BY THIS THE TRUTH IS THAT WE ARE HELPING THE LESS PRIVILEDGE TO HELP UPGRADE OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUITION
BELOW ARE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE $350 US DOLLARS OK,

NAME.............MIKE MAISON
CITY................LAGOS
COUNTRY.........NIGERIA
QUESTION........TO WHO
ANSWER.............MY LOVE
AMOUNT...........$350
MTCN............

SEND THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THIS BELOW EMAIL ADDRESS,
EMAIL : ben.maison@yahoo.com
WAITING TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY OK,

BEN MAISON.
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE NIGERIA
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 303)
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Western Union

Disclaimer:
This Electronic Mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not an addressee, or have received the message by error, please notify the sender via E-Mail or over the telephone and delete this e-mail. You are not authorized to read, copy, disseminate, distribute or use this E-Mail or any of its attachment in any way.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam