419 scam: "MS FELICIA BOBBY" <rodrigue_dambo1@yahoo.com.ph> Contact New Western Union Manager MS FELICIA BOBBY.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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.
- westernunionmoney50@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MS FELICIA BOBBY" <rodrigue_dambo1@yahoo.com.ph> (may be fake)
Reply-To: westernunionmoney50@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:54:59 -0500 (COT)
Subject: Contact New Western Union Manager MS FELICIA BOBBY.

Attn, Dear Friend:

This Message Is From MS FELICIA BOBBY. the NEW MANAGER OF WESTERN UNION
TO This E-mail Address, How Are You Today, I Write To Inform You That We
Have Already Sent You USD5000.00 Dollars Through Western Union As We Have
Been Given The Mandate To Transfer Your Full Compensation Payment Total
Sum Of US $1.800 000.00, Via Western Union As Instructed By Our
Government.

Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you and has to comply and
your funds shall be transfer to your designated address. But remember that
after (2DAYS) you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds
to Government Fund This Morning. Now I Decided To Email You The MTCN And
Sender's Name So That You Will Pick Up ThisUSD5000.00 To Enable Us Send
Another Today As You Know We Will Be Sending You Only USD 5000.00 Per
Daily.

The moment I receive the payment of $55 I will release the first payment
information’s of $5000.00 to you and you will pick up the money and I will
send you another one until you receive the entire total fund. Hoping to
hear from you.
.
MEANWHILE YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE ACTIVATION FEE WHICH IS $55 USD,
SO WITHOUT THE STAMP FEE YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT'S ON HOLD AND
THE MTCN CANNOT BE RELEASED TO YOU UNTIL YOU SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE, THAT
IS AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF)

HERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE CHARGE SO THAT YOUR
FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU FOR ANOTHER TO BE SENT IMMEDIATELY.

RECEIVERNAME.....Nwabu Emmanuel
COUNTRY ..........BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY .......................COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION ........TRUST
TEXT ANSWER........ FUNDS
AMOUNT................

THANKS.
MS FELICIA BOBBY

GENERAL NEW MANAGER WESTERN UNION FOREIGN OPERATION DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIC
E-mail :(westernunionmoney50@yahoo.com.hk)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam