419 scam: "Mr.johnson William" <moneyman4live9@gmail.com> HERE IS YOUR REFERENCE # (7636-4647) ONCE YOU PICKED IT LET ME KNOW ASAP

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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. )
- "money-gram" (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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.johnson William" <moneyman4live9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: accursosande@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 14:28:56 -0700
Subject: HERE IS YOUR REFERENCE # (7636-4647) ONCE YOU PICKED IT LET ME KNOW ASAP

Head office BENIN REPUBLIC Mr.Johnson William
& associates 06 np 1409 akpakpa dodome
West Africa Republic Of BENIN

Attention: Dear Customer.

We the Money-Gram Board of Directors, We are contacting you regarding
your $2.5M USD which we have already program for immediate
transfer.The Truth is that I dont understand and I dont care what you
mean in your last email but to tell you the truth,I mean the word of
soberness.I am not begging you to send me money for my own needs but
for your own needs and it is just for this Money-Gram office to
release your payment to you.

If you dont send the $89 within 24 hrs,you will have yourself to blame
because you will not only loose your funds $2.5M USD but also loose
the money also which you have sent to the fake organisations in the
time past.This is my word to you.I can not bother you again after this
email concerning the release of your four(4)payment down below this
email.If you recieve it,I have nothing to gain and if you dont recieve
it also,I have nothing to gain.You have everything to gain because the
funds $2.5M USD belongs to you and not me and the money contained in
it is yours and not mine.So,you have the decision to make on your own.

We have already made this (4) Ref-Number control number available on
your name to enable you pick up your payment but before we can be able
to release the complete information to you have to obtain
(Authorization Release Permit).

below is (4) Ref-Number control number available on your name:

Ref-Number: 7636-4647
Sender Name:.........
Amount: $4500 USD
Test Question: Color
Test Answer: Pink

Ref-Number: 4346-5946
Sender Name:.........
Amount: $4500 USD
Test Question: Color
Test Answer: Pink

Ref-Number: 2386-3929
Sender Name:.........
Amount: $4500 USD
Test Question: Color
Test Answer: Pink

Ref-Number: 4916-1246
Sender Name:.........
Amount: $4500 USD
Test Question: Color
Test Answer: Pink

What you are requested now is AUTHORIZATION RELEASE PERMIT,which is
going to cost you $89.00USD (only) please be aware that this is the
only charges/fees, as soon as this is done, your funds will be release
to you in less than 45 Mins through Western Union transfer

Below is the receiver name for the requested Authorization Release
Permit.

Receiver Name: David Mark
Country: BENIN REPUBLIC
City:COTONOU
Zip Code: +229
Test Question: How Long
Test Answer: 45Mins
Amount:$89.00 USD

We are Waiting to receive the requested fee with your direct phone
number.

Thanks for your understanding and Cooperation.

Best Regards,
Mr.johnson William
Director Foreign Remittance
Telephone: email`( money.transfer )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam