419 scam: "REV.DR. ERIC MAXWELL" <westernnionmt@gmail.com> PLEASE YOU ARE ADVICE TO READ THIS MESSAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE REPLYING

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonouwesternunion@cash4u.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "cotonouwesternunion@cash4u.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998976228 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV.DR. ERIC MAXWELL" <westernnionmt@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western_union_cotonou@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:18:17 +0900 (KST)
Subject: PLEASE YOU ARE ADVICE TO READ THIS MESSAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE REPLYING

There is an issue with the AccessBank western union Money transfer in full Compensation payment of $2.8Million united state dollars directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address and it was scheduled earlier to pay you $7,000usd on daily basis starting from tomorrow and it will be released into your account as soon as you respond to this letter.

It became imperative to contact you on the subject matter because after the fund has been brought to our office to remit somebody from your country by name Charles Porter contacted us and said you are on sick bed and ordered him to contact us to remit the USD$2.8Million using his information to pick up your fund presently under our custody for transfer on your behalf.
The Official responsible for the presentation of your money valued USD$2.8Million Winning quickly granted approvals to their application now waiting for final endorsement from Board of Trustees.

When our AccessBank Debit Note was submitted to my desk for final Approvals before forwarding it to Board for endorsement, I noticed that there are discrepancies as there was no evidence of authorisation letter from you for Charles Porter to receive the fund on your behalf.I urgently summoned The Official responsible for the presentation of the winning and directed him to stop the movement of the funds and at the same time placed a stop order instruction on the funds pending when your views and comments are received with regards to this matter.

I hereby urged you to call or email me urgently for your comments which will be highly appreciated if you are still alife or not on sick bed with sum of require activation fee $85, to commence the transfer of your first payment $7,000.00usd accordingly, because we will not hesitate to continue the payment transfer activation with the name of the gentleman on claim if no response come from you. Contact me on this number :+229-989-762-28.or e-mail me back using this address cotonouwesternunion@cash4u.com as your silence will be a clear indication that you authorised him to effect the above changes.

Also fill the information below to help us facilitate your transfer via Western Union
1) Your Full Name:.............
2) Country and Mobile:. .
3) Home/ Office Address:....
4) Profession and Age:.......
YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

REGARDS,
REV.DR. ERIC MAXWELL
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS,
AccessBank PLC western union Dept.(cotonouwesternunion@cash4u.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam