419 scam: "Mr.Emmanuel Wood" <chibuikechieji@live.com> Greetings and compliments,

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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22968 (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.
- mrben746@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Emmanuel Wood" <chibuikechieji@live.com>
Reply-To: ww.westeernunion0ffice@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 16:05:34 +0800
Subject: Greetings and compliments,

Greetings and compliments,

I am Mr.Ben Nell the Chair person in charge of The United State Embassy
/Treasury Department, International Wire Transfers, Benin Republic. You are to
reply through this my official email address {mrben746@yahoo.fr] because this
is to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk because the director &
management of the WESTERN UNION & MONEYGRAM transfer have declared to divert
your fund to the government treasury account just because you can not pay the
wire transfer fee.In reasoning wisely to this complain I told them to wait
until I hear from you so that I will know the reason why you decide to reject
such amount of money USD$1.4million which is your rightful & legal overdue
inheritance payment just because of transfer fee.

The reason why I sent this email to you is because its your sweat and for this
reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if you can send
USD$180.00 today because I have already arranged your wires ready for its
daily wires to you but failing to do this, I will allow them to have power
over your fund and am very sorry if you failed as this is the last chance.

Therefore, send the USD$180.00 immediately you receive this email today and
email your full name and address to me if you want your USD$1.4million be send
to you by western union OR Money gram transfer but the maximum amount
officially allow for it per day wire to you is USD$180.00 per day until you
receive your complete USD$1.4million from here. The second option is for you
to send me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund be fully
transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your account at once. After
you have sent the $180.00 and email me the mtcn numbers, you are to indicate
your wish to receive your funds as I have stated above and the funds will be
released to you without any hitch.

Here is the western union or money gram information in the name of my
accountant to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember that I have done
my best for you and I will make sure that your wire will begin to be released
to you from the moment you sent this $180.00
Send the $180.00 now and send me email with the western union mtcn or
money-gram reference numbers when you send the money , you can as well call me
ont his number+229-68_23_43_93 when you have sent the money now OK .

Receivers Name:...john edu
Pay-Out Country:... Benin
Pay-Out City: Cotonou.
Test Question:. God
Answer:..is able
Amount to send: ...$180.00
SEND MTCN NUMBER....

Send it and email the MTCN control number, amount sent, name and address
ofsender to me for easy collection and once again remember to reply through
thismy official email address TAKE NOTE: REPLY ONLY THROUGH THIS
EMAIL:{mrben746@yahoo.fr)
Thanks.
Mr.Ben Nell
The United State Embassy /Treasury Department, International
Wire Transfers,Benin Republic.
Telephone: +229-68_23_43_93

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam