419 scam: "Beninwestern union" <infobenin@western.com> THE MTCN OF THE FIRST $5000 WE SENT TODAY

joewein.net

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 transfer control number" (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 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.
- +22986106420 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Beninwestern union" <infobenin@western.com>
Reply-To: customercare2@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 22:55:51 -0400
Subject: THE MTCN OF THE FIRST $5000 WE SENT TODAY

We received a signal mail regarding your funds of $950,000.00 which was deposited here in our western union branch office in Benin Republic. First of all, the funds was deposited by Mr. John Mark for immediate transfer and according to our rules and regulations, you will be receiving your money $5,000.00 per day until the total amount of $950,000.00.

Secondly, we already proceeding of your first payment of $5,000.00 this morning but according to our head office you can not pick it up because the money is on hold by Authority Transfer Department (A.T.D), you will start receiving this fund immediately you make the payment of $55.00 for Inco-transfer programming Charge, all the arrangement has been concluded this morning so all you need to do now is go ahead and send the $55.00 now.

Receive s name == Edwin Oblimu
Country === Benin Republic
city === cotonou
Text question == God
Answer == Bless
Amount == $55.00
Money Transfer Control Number == (M.T.C.N)
Sender's name ==

The Inco-transfer programming Charge is $55.00, send it with then name of our protocol agent Mr. Edwin Oblimu on this information below: do it immediately to enable us proceed with our head office, and guarantee you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of $55.00 today your pick up information's shall be send first thing tomorrow morning by 9am your local time.

Again, be advice to reconfirm your information to avoid mistake such as below:

RECEIVER NAME .........................
HOME ADDRESS ........................
COUNTRY .......CITY ..........TEL ......TEST QUESTION .........ANSWER ......

Bear it in mind the charges cannot be deduct from your total sum because your fund is under security bond and no one is allow to take anything out of it until you confirm the total fund in your custody. Send the $55.00 today via western union money transfer with the name of our paying agent below .

BEST REGARDS,
MR. WATSON JOHN
TELL: +229-861-06-420
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam