419 scam: Ben Johnson <benjohnson195@yahoo.com.ph> GOOD DAY

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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:

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. )
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westernunioncode829@mail.iki.lt" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westernunioncode829@mail.iki.lt" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Ben Johnson <benjohnson195@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:17:59 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GOOD DAY

Western Union®

Welcome to Western Union

WESTERN UNION OFFICE Benin Republic

Send Money Worldwide

Contact Payment department; Mr John Gaya

Contact Email:westernunioncode829@mail.iki.lt

I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DR BEN JOHNSON HAS ORDERED THAT THE ONLY MONEY YOU WILL SEND NOW IS JUST $55 US DOLLARS SO THAT WE WILL START SENDING TO YOU YOUR $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL FUND OF THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($3.500,000.00) IS PAID TO YOU AND IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY BY SENDING THIS FEE WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THIS ORDER,YOUR TOTAL FUND WOULD BE CONFISCATED AND IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNMENT PURSE,HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE FINAL ORDER.

SO I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SEE THAT YOU SEND THE $55 US DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL TODAY SO THAT WE WILL FINALIZE EVERY THING TO TODAY,

BY TOMORROW,YOU WILL START TO BE RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY,YOU URGE TO RESEND YOUR CURRENT INFORMATION SUCH AS YOUR PHONE NUMBER ADDRESS AND FULL NAME IMMEDIATELY TO AVIOD DELAY.

Your name...................

Country.....................

Phone no....................

Address/city................

Age/sex.....................

BELOW ARE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE $55 US DOLLARS OK,

RECIVER NAME..............AFIOCHA N ANTHONY

CITY................COTONOU

COUNTRY.........BENIN REPUBLIC

QUESTION........WHAT COLOR

ANSWER.............GREEN

AMOUNT...........$55

MTCN............

WAITING TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY OK,

MR JOHN GAYA.

Phone No . +23418407990

FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER

WESTERN UNION OFFICE Benin Republic

THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 829)

Western Union®

Welcome to Western Union

Reply To This Email Address Here ; westernunioncode829@mail.iki.lt

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam