419 scam: "Mr. Anuli Joseph" <mrkolowisdom@yahoo.com> WESTERN UNION IS GIVEN YOU YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000 TODAY.

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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.
- aunlijoseph@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Anuli Joseph" <mrkolowisdom@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: aunlijoseph@rediffmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 16:47:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: WESTERN UNION IS GIVEN YOU YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000 TODAY.

WESTERN UNION COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC &n bsp;

10 Parkville Road,

Aso Rock Villa Cotonou

Benin Republic.

contact mail (aunlijoseph@rediffmail.com

Attn,

Yes, it is true that you were sent a payment of $5,000.00 according to an instruction from the ministry of finance
Cotonou-Benin Republic which indicates that we should be sending to you
daily payment of $5,000.00 every day till you complete your total
amount. We have finally sent you the first installment payment of usd
$5,000.00but be rest assured that without fulfilled the necessary
obligations you can not pick the money from western union because, you
have not fulfilled the necessary obligations of your transfer. Be
informed that your funds was on hold by us due to an instruction from
(IMF) Office ( International Monetary Fund ) they told us to placed the
fund on hold, by required the clearance certificate of your funds will
cost $65.00 to issue on your name file payments from IMF to proof legal
transfer

Meanwhile,
Once you send the fee of Clearance payments of your file payment which
is $65.00 We will remit another payment on your name and send all the
payment details so that you will be able to pick up your fund from any western union location around in your country. Here is the information of the .$5,000.00 your first payment

MTCN NUMBERS : 3100112128

Sender's Name:.....anthony udezuuo

Text Question: ....In God

Answer: ....We trust

Amount: ...$5,000 usd

du to the above reason/s.

Please
be informed that we can not release the transfer without you having
fulfilled all your financial obligation/s as required of the international monetary fund.
Therefore, you need to obtain the clearance payment from IMF office
which will cost you $65.00only. Please, I will advise you to make this
payment so that your fund will release today.

So kindly send the $65.00 To below name

RECEIVERS NAME:====Anthony Afiocha

COUNTRY:=======BENIN REPUBLIC

TEST QUESTION:=======WHAT CITY

ANSWER: ===========COTONOU

AMOUNT:===========$65.00 USD

MTCN NUMBER ==========

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

Furthermore,
we are to be sending you $5,000.00 per day until the total amount of
your money which is $2.5million sud is completely transfer to you as
instructed by Mr Frank Farm from the Ministry of Finance Cotonou-Benin Republic.

Regards,

Mr. Anuli Joseph.

western union director,contact mail (aunlijoseph@rediffmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam