419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN <mikecollins2007@yahoo.fr> Attn; Beneficiary,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "union201@live.fr" (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.
- +22998596584 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN <mikecollins2007@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: western_.union201@live.fr
Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 15:39:06 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Attn; Beneficiary,

Attn; Beneficiary,
I want to inform you that new Civilian President of Benin Republic DR YAYI BONI have visited our western union headquater yesteday morning regarding all the unfinish transcation starting from his first regime in 2006 - 2011 he allso instructed us to finish all the unfinish business failure in all western union around the country with lower prize and we agree with his instruction.

so I was calling your phone through yesterday and you don't feel to carry my calls, When you for now atleast you will be geting $5.000.00 to $10.000.00 thousand transfered since yesterday and today because I raise $50.00 to help you cover up the required $154.00

I was calling you to inform you that I want to help you with $50.00 while you pay balance of $104.00 but you was not picking up my calls, Well you still have the opportunity to send this $104.00 today and. then I will help you complete the money. then you will get one transfer today which will be $5000.00 because the Bank here promised me that they will also transfer another payment of $5.000.00 to you by tomorrow before our closing hours.

So, try as much as possible to see how you will send this balance of $104.00 immediately with this information,

HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY,THROUGTH MONEY GRAM:

RECEIVER NAME======= MR.NNAEMEKA JOHNSON
2. COUNTRY=====COTONOU_BENIN REPUBLIC.
3. QUESTION=======WHEN
4. ANSWER======NOW
5. AMOUNT======US$104,00

If you send this $104.00 this afternoon, I will help you with balance of $50.00 and you will have to get atleast $5.000.00 transferred today.then another one will be by tomorrow. that is my agreement with our department now.

I want you to run around and see that you send the $104.00,this afternoon I knew the reason why I say this, I knew it will help you alot to pay back those expense and other people that you borrowe sofar, I have done my best to help you out. So is your duty to complete the rest and start receiveing your payment immediately if you believe and turst my words. Contact back with Email:western_.union201@live.fr

Here is the payment information to pick up you first payment
HERE IS YOUR TRACKING PAYMENT INFORMATION WEB SITE. www.westernunion.com

THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD TRACK IT.
Status : Available for pick up by receiver
Sender's First name-------Emmanuel
Sender's Last name-----Chukwuemeka
MTCN----474-159-8062
Receiver----
Text Question--Trust
Answer-----Honest
Amount----$5000,

I AM WAITING TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT TODAY,
I am waiting for the MTCN.
God bless you.
MR, Mike Collins.
+229- 9859-65-84.
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam