419 scam: "MR. JERRY ADAMS" <stella_maris_2009@yahoo.com> CONTACT FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION INT'L. OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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 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.
- +22999537634 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westernun.dept@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. JERRY ADAMS" <stella_maris_2009@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernun.dept@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:29:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION INT'L. OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION INT'L.
OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
LOCATION. RUE BPH141
KINGSTON AVENUE
COTONOU BENIN.
REF: MT89TQ
CONTACT PERSON MR. JERRY ADAMS
TEL: 00229-9953-7634
CONTACT EMAIL:westernun.dept@gmail.com

website... www.westernunion.com

DEAR BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $4,500.00. FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND OF NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND STATE DOLLARS) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM,TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHAT EVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST $4,500.00. ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM I WANT YOU TO SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.

RECEIVERS NAME::::::::::::::::OKEKE HYBENT
COUNTRY:::::::::::::::::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY:::::::::::::::::::::::::::COTONOU.
TEXT QUESTION::::::::::: BE HONEST?
ANSWER:::::::::::::::::TRUST.
AMOUNT::::::::::

PLEASE ANY AMOUNT YOU SEND LET US KNOW, SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECEIPT OF YOUR $4,500.00. TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW.

FOR FURTHER PROCEDURE, CONTACT THE MANAGER WESTERN UNION WITH INFORMATION BELOW;
NAME MR. JERRY ADAMS
Tel; 00229-99-53-76-34.
E-MAIL; ( westernun.dept@gmail.com )

THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE,

------------------------------ -----------------------
THANK YOU FOR USING WESTERN UNION!

YOURS SINCERELY,
MR. JERRY ADAMS
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam