419 scam: Western Union Benin <ofile54@gmail.com> Your Reply Western Union Benin Money Transfer Agent MD

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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
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.
- wbj1172@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Benin <ofile54@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wbj1172@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:39:06 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Your Reply Western Union Benin Money Transfer Agent MD

Attention Dear Customer:

This is to inform you that we the Western Union Money Transfer Agent
Porto-Novo Benin republic has instructed to pay your compensation fund
$4.8Million United State Dollars between now until end of NOV 2012
per day you will receive the sum of US$4,500 Dollars, However be
informed that we have send the sum of $5,000 Dollars today being
Sunday to avoid cancellation of your payment.

Once/again; note that you have only 24 hours to comply with the
instruction and directive giving to you upon the receipt of this email
to avoid cancellation of this transaction also be fully informed that
the maximum amount you will be receiving per day starting from today
is US$5,000Dollars in which is to be transferred to you in two
different payments US$4.800.00Dollars each, Meanwhile Find below the
Money Transfer Control Number of US$4.800.00Dollars to pick up today
before the balance of the Payment US$4.800.00Dollars will be
transferred today MTCN:{0953-013-574}

Finally; you are required to remit to us the sum of $48.00Dollars for
the endorsement of your payment file by our head office for the
immediate release and easy pick up of your first payment
$2,500.00Dollars before the balance of $4.800.00Dollars to pick up the
US$2,500.00Dollars today

YOU REQUIRE SENDING $48.00USD TODAY THROUGH WESTERN UNION THAT.S ONLY
PAYMENT YOU WILL PAY.

Receiver Name ------: EKWEALOR ANTHONY
Destination-------------- Porto-Novo Benin Republic
Country---------------Benin Republic
Test Question---------Very
Test Answer------------Urgent
MTCN #: --------------
Sender Name: -----------------------

We await to ready from you today with the payment information of the
required fee to enable our head office endorse your payment file for
you to start receiving your payment as it was signed and programmed.

Youâ€™re faithfully in Service
Mr. Ekwealor Anthony
Our Phone:+22999788303
Our E-mail: wbj1172@yahoo.com.hk
Western Union Benin
Money Transfer Agent MD

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam