419 scam: Mr James Egobia <webofficee@yahoo.cn> Dear customer e-mail alert,

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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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westernunion2011@e-mail.ua" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22999547698 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr James Egobia <webofficee@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunion2011@e-mail.ua
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:43:37 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Dear customer e-mail alert,








Western Union Send Money
Worldwide
Welcome to Western
Union Money Transfer office Cotonou Benin.
ADDRESS: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST
OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.
Website: www.westernunion.com

Dear customer e-mail
alert,

The Western Union Money Transfer
Service Cotonou, Benin Republic headquarters wishes to inform you that our
government has paid part of the fees needed for the final release of your funds
$4.600,000.00 USD to you this month through our Western Union Office here in
Benin Republic to avoid you sending much money to African scam again.

And for your information the
maximum amount you will be receiving started from today is $5000 USD till your
total funds of $4.600,000.00 USD is complete transferred to you and we have been
strongly to send you the first payment of $5000USD today through our payment
system here before we find out that your payment file need to renew from world
Bank central system.And we listed below for your first payment of $5000usd been
sent in your name today morning but you will not pickup the money unless you
send the fee of US$50.00 require to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System here in Cotonou, Republic Benin.

Below is your first payment for
$5000usd sent today.
Money
Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):# 1578189677
Senders First Name: Colin
Senders Last Name: Dinsdale
Question: WHEN?
Answer: TODAY

So if you want to track the
money and confirm if the funds is transferred enter our websitehttps://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global then click tracking and enter
the mtcn number? 9051120424 Enter senders
first name? Emmanuel.Enter senders last name..Chukwuemeka and click tracking and
it will show you that your funds is available for you to pick it up.

Final urgent in sending us the
$50.00usd to enable us proceed on reconfirm your payment file from the world
Bank central SYSTEM .Send the fee directly with the name as outline below use it
to send the money via western union to enable us pick it from our department
here and reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank central and
commerce your daily payment immediately.. we also repeat again, you will not
pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$50 require to renew and reconfirm
your payment file to us through the World Bank Central System in Benin
Republic.

So if you would prefer to start
receiving your payment first thing tomorrow in the morning hurry up and send the
renew and reconfirmation of your payment file fees $50usd with bellow
information via western union money transfer service.

Reciever Name: Ude Ojadi.
Country: Benin Republic,
City: Cotonou
Text Question: WHEN?
Answer: today.
Amount: $50 usd

Money Transfer Control Number
(MTCN) is needed and sender's name
Finally Notice: This payment you
are receiving is coming directly from World Bank assistance programmable 2012
promo, so its risk free and we the western union headquarters has agree to start
sending you the payment immediately you meet up with our demand in this
letter.But after 2days you did not reply stand the risk of cancel your payment
and have it return back to Government

Yours respectfuly,
Mr.James Egobia.
DIRECTOR Western Union
Payments
CALL ME ONCE AGAIN
FOR MORE INFORMATION +229-99547698.
Email:westernunion2011@e-mail.ua

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam