419 scam: "REV.JOHN MARK." <terry_hedges@yahoo.com> OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- office151@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- cotonou of west african faster way of receiving money. office151@yahoo.com . general manager of western union foreign contractor (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV.JOHN MARK." <terry_hedges@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: office151@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2012 08:34:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

P {
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ATTENTION DEAR VALUED
CUSTOMER,
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER WORLD WIDE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU OF WEST AFRICAN FASTER WAY OF
RECEIVING MONEY.

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 TOKPA,ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE POST OFFICE
COTONOU.

ATTENTION.

We are here to let you know that your
mail is well received regarding your fund which was deposited here in our
Western Union department Benin Republic,Now be rest assure that you will
receiving your fund on the amount of $5000.00 daily until the transfer of your
whole total sum of $USD 1.5 Million dollars is
completed.

And through
the investigation we
have, verify that the money was picked up and it is picked by the General
Western Union Head Office here in Benin Republic due to you did not send the
requested fee for the Renewal of your New File which was deposited here in our
Western Union Office here in Benin Republic with your name
.

So note that you will pay for the
Renewal of your NEW FILE before you could pick it up and i want you to send the
$125 right now, so that latest by tomorrow morning your transfer will commence,
now i will advice you to make an attempt to send the $125 today for you to
start receiving your fund as from tomorrow upwards.

And you should note that as soon as we
receive your payment information, every thing will be sort out and also will
be finalized as soon as possible.We are waiting for your urgent
response.

Be aware that you will be receiving
$5000.00 each day starting from tomorrow once you send the $125 for the Renewal
of your New Files today.

This is the payment information you
will use to send the $125 for this department.

1.RECEIVER NAME:______ MR, Okeke
Chris
2.COUNTRY:____________ BENIN REPUBLIC
.
3.CITY :________________ COTONOU.
4.TEST QUESTION:______ God

5.TEST ANSWER:_______
Bless
Sender's Name...........
Mtcn
Number.............

immediately you
send the fee forward the western union payment receipt to us.

FROM THE DESK OF REV.JOHN MARK.

THE DIRECTOR OF WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER WORLD WIDE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU OF WEST AFRICAN FASTER
WAY OF RECEIVING MONEY.

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 TOKPA, ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE POST OFFICE
COTONOU.

FROM THE DESK OF
REV.JOHN MARK.

THE DIRECTOR
OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WORLD WIDE BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU OF WEST
AFRICAN FASTER WAY OF RECEIVING MONEY.
office151@yahoo.com
.

GENERAL MANAGER OF WESTERN UNION
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.office151@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam