419 scam: "Dr James Kuit," <officeoffice42@gmail.com> CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE

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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. )
- "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.
- +22966658936 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westernunion_benin22@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr James Kuit," <officeoffice42@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion_benin22@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:25:20 +0800 (CST)
Subject: CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE

WESTERN UNION
MONEY
TRANSFER-WORLDWIDE:

OFFICE OF
THE WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU,

BENIN
REPUBLIC.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

MR TERRY COOL
Call +229-66 65
8936

I want to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US
Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your
full over due payment total sum of $800.000.00 USD, via western union by the
Ministry of Finance.I tried reaching you on phone to give you all the
information on phone but I couldn't get through yesterday,

So I decided
to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up the $5000.00 to
enable us send another $5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you
$5000.00 only per day. And it was agreed that you will pay the transfer charge
sum of $67 before the release of the payment to you.

Please pick up this
information and locate any western union around to pick up the $5000.00 and call
the Operation Manager Mr.TERRY COOL, because he is the person in charge of your
payment, and he can send you another payment today once you contact him, phone
line Call Call +229-66 65 89 36, E-mail:( westernunion_benin22@yahoo.com.hk
) contact him once you picked up the $5000.00 today.

Below is the western
union information to pick up the $5000.00; which you will be receiving daily
after you sent them their transfer charge of $67 and it will serve as
re-confirmation of your payment file in their office.
Here is the Senders
Information;

MTCN. 97747 70040
sender's Name : william
Phillips
Test Question : Today
ANSWER: Today
Amount : USD
5000.00
Country: Benin Republic

They will be waiting to hear from you with the
transfer charge payment of $67 today;

Receiver Name.... Mr. Onyekwe
John
Country------Benin Republic
Your.
City-----Cotonou
Your.Question----A
Your.
Answer-----B

Be advice that $67 transfer
charge is compulsory as they told me that is the only money you will pay until
you receive your payment completely. Endeavor to E-mail your direct telephone
number because you will call once the payment
informations is sent to
you.
Regards
Dr James Kuit,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam