419 scam: "MR JOHNSON EZE" <ffoo259@yahoo.com> FROM 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:
- "activation 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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22998316571 (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.
- westernunion241@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR JOHNSON EZE" <ffoo259@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernunion241@rocketmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 08:13:38 +0700
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE: +229-9831-6571
EMAIL:westernunion241@rocketmail.com
WEB WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM

ATTENTION: DEAR CUSTOMER,

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 24HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENT PAYMENT $5,000:00 FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM OF THE MONEY REQUIRED, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE AS FROM $75 UP FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK IT UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE DEMAND FEE WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country
1. SENDER FIRST NAME_____Jason
2. SENDER SECOND NAME____Callahan
3. TEST QUESTION_________VERY
4. TEST ANSWER___________URGENT
5. AMOUNT________________$5,000 USD
6. MTCN__________________074-137-0142 (Available for pick up by receiver)

Current status : Available for pick up by receiver

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST US $5,000 , ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN, BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

1.RECEIVER NAME__________EMMANUEL OKOYE
2.COUNTRY________________BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY___________________COTONOU
4.TEST QUESTION_________VERY
5.TEST ANSWER____________URGENT
6.MTCN___________________
7.SENDER'S NAME__________

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEEÂ WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECEIPT OF YOUR US $5,000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW.

CALL IMMEDIATELY ON THIS DIRECT PHONE +229-9831-6571 FOR MORE DETAILS AND DIRECTIVES.

WE CONGRATULATE YOU IN ADVANCE.

MR JOHNSON EZE
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER
EMAIL:westernunion241@rocketmail.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER: +229-9831-6571

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam