419 scam: "Mr.David Mark"<officeinfouas@gmail.com> Your first payment of $5000 USD is ready and this is the MTCN:0981557409.

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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. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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: "Mr.David Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <www.western0ffice42@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 08:11:55 +0100
Subject: Your first payment of $5000 USD is ready and this is the MTCN:0981557409.

Dear beneficiary,I am Dr. David Mark,the new agent of western union office in
Benin.

I am contacting you for my success in getting a chance to transfer your fund
to you,and the payment that approve in your name according to the file in
the documents of our transaction file stated that you will be receiving
$5000 USD per today through sending you the payment information to your email
box to enable you go and pick up your payment in any western union office in
your country.

The transfer of your fund is ready to give you the first payment MTCN:0981557409,but you
need a correct transfer information where to send your money,therefore you
will get back to me on email with the bellow information:

1.Your full receiver's name::::::::::::::::::
2.Your country and state name::::::::::::::::::
3.Your test question and answer:question you will use to receive your payment:::::::::::::::::::
4.And finally your phone number and address.::::::
Be urgent and correct feeling of the information above,because if any mistake on
the above information,your payment might go to another individual and note that the total fund you have with this western

union office to transfer to you is $2.5 Million United State Dollars.

Thank you,

Dr. David Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam