419 scam: "Mr. Daniel Michael." <mba---ife47@att.net> Congratulations!!!

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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. )
- "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 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.
- westernu2@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Daniel Michael." <mba---ife47@att.net>
Reply-To: westernu2@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:23:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!!

We proceeded and have your transfer concluded today with the Federal Government Authority, a division of transfer head office Department in Cotonou Benin Republic.

Therefore, we wish to congratulate to inform you that the transferring of your fund has been signed and approved today for immediate transfer via our custody Western Union Money Transfer to your receiver details information.

Therefore comply with us immediately to enable us complete the transfer in your favor and have a smooth transfer of this fund to your given details information, you will need to provide the needed transfer fee which you suppose to pay to this office last time ago, the payment need to make as urgent to enable us proceed your transfer right now.

=========================================================================================

1) the needed amount to conclude everything is US$90.00 only).

***PLEASE NOTE***

Here is our Contact Email address (westernu2@hotmail.com)

Contact person Mr. Samuel James O, Operator.

That your outstanding payment transfer is currently successfully and therefore the above fees cannot be delay to confirm from you, in order to have a smooth transferring of this fund to your given information; you are advised to pay up the transfer charges of US$90.00, as soon as you receive this mail to enable us proceed your transfer today and immediate release of your transfer code.

Without this requested $90.00 you cannot claim your fund successful on the day of your transfer. And do note that your fund are presently in the process transfer and all your arrangement is already made here today, therefore you cannot make any use or access your fund until the above fees are paid currently.

You can have the transfer confirmed / verified by contacting this office of Western Union so that we will release your transfer control number / MTCN and you forwarded your receiver's details information to the Western Union.

Your receiver's name........

your country and City..........

Due to the fact that Federal Government of this country & Western Union have processes your transfer, we recommends to contacting you that your transfer has been assigned to this particular Order directly. This ensures speedy verification of transfer as well as prompt transfer the fund to you.

=========================================================================================

Our directly email contact (westernu2@hotmail.com) you can email us for more details. =========================================================================================

Thank you. We are look forward to serving your online transfer and needs better in the future.

I wait to hear from you.

Mr. Daniel Michael.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam