419 scam: "Mrs.Viay Johnson" <viayjohn@hotmail.fr> Contact the western union for the first paymen.

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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:
- "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. )
- "bf_5@qq.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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Viay Johnson" <viayjohn@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: bf_5@qq.com
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:01:45 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Contact the western union for the first paymen.

Dear Valued Customer, We have concluded to effect your payment, through western union, but the maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from the day you contact the western union agent, the first paymet is $5,000.00 daily until the funds is completely transferred because all the fund has been program. Kindly Contact Western union Agent:Name: Okafor PaulE-mail:{ bf_5@qq.com}Also reconfirm your information to them below YOUR NAME----------------------- YOUR ADDRESS------------------YOUR PHONE---------------------- Though, I sent $5,000.00 in your name today, but Mr. Okafor said that you should contact first with your information. So contact Mr. Okafor Paul through email or call him as soon as you receive this email and tell him to give you the Mtcn, sender name and question/answer
to pick the $5,000.00 Please let me know as soon as you received all your funds.Thank you. Mr. Tareq Barraq

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam