419 scam: "Mike Johnson" <databasefile@9.cn> YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU

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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:

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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Johnson" <databasefile@9.cn>
Reply-To: western_union23@globomail.com
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:00:11 -0600 (CST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU

Attention,

How are you today?I write to inform you that a compensation of $200,000
usd has been approved to send you by the resolution of ministry of fiance
and united nation west Africa region. we have already sent you $5000.00
usd dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to
transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $200,000,via western
union by this governemnt. We decided to email you the MTCN and sender's
name so that you will pick up the $5000.00 usd to enable us send another
$5000.00 usd tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only $5000.00 usd
per day and it was agreed by the joint resolution board of ministry of
finance and United Nation Africa region that you will pay the sum of $65
and send your information to key it with the MTCN before they will
realease the payment to you.

Here Is The Senders Information of your first payment of $5,000 which you
can confirm from the western union site below;
Senders First Name: ABUCHI
Senders Second Name: EKWEGBLI
MTCN: -------355-206-5764
Text Question----Pets Name?
Answer----------Mezino
Website:www.westernunion.com

If you can be able to send this compulsory fee of $65 today then your name
will be forward to the western union immediately to pick up this fund and
another $5000 will be send to you to pick up same tomorrow until this
compensation fund of $200,000.00 is complete.

Please reconfirm below your information immediately so that we will key in
your information in the data base of western union to enable the western
union over there in your country allow you to receive this first $5,000
and another payment will be send to you immediately you confirm back that
you have receive the first payment but be warned that you must send this
$65 as soon as possible. If you did not send this $65 western union will
not release any payment to you. so be fast and follow this instruction
now.

So you are to re-confirm your own information below,
Your name as the Receiver----------
Your. Country-------
Your. City-----------
Your. Tel----------
Your. Test question------
Your. Answer-----------
Your. Passport or any of your IDENTITY NUMBER -----------

And We Are Waitng for you to Send The $65 now with this information below
so that we can key in your information as the receive of this MTCN above
for you to pick it immediately and smile home.

RECEIVER-------------ABUCHI KWEGBLI
LOCATION CITY---------COTONOU-BENIN
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN
TEXT QUESTION--HOW LONG?
ANSWER-----------TODAY
AMOUNT--------------$65.Only

Be advise that the $65 is a compulsory as this is the only money you will
pay until you receive your payment completely I am waiting for your urgent
response call once you pick up this $5000.00 usd,Please email me your
direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any
payment for the informations.

Be fast to contact Dr. Douglas Hall and send him your full information for
reconfirmation as soon as pissble. EMAIL: western_union23@globomail.com

Thanks and Remain Blessed,
Yours Mr Mike Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam