419 scam: "Senator Miller Berebaum"<netspam@lee.com> Your Frist Payment Of $5,000 Is Available for pick up by receiver/TEL +23481666

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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. )
- "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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2348166609512

Fraud email example:

From: "Senator Miller Berebaum" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnmark_agent188@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2014 18:48:49 +0300
Subject: Your Frist Payment Of $5,000 Is Available for pick up by receiver/TEL +2348166609512

Your Frist Payment Of $5,000 Is Available for pick up by receiver/TEL +2348166609512

I Am Mr.Mark Falcon the director in Charge Of Auditing and Accounting Section of (Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc) with due respect and regard, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will benefit the both of us at the end of the transaction. In order to transfer out the sum of (US$10 Million) Ten Million United State Dollars) from one of the leading banks in Nigeria Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc into a foreign account provided, I need a foreigner who is reliable and honest person who is capable and fit to receive this money through a bank to bank wire transfer. During the course of our auditing last month, I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 2011 and since 2014 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files, I discovered that the owner of the account did not states any Next Of Kin, hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing by our ma!
nagement. we have do your fund via

You can not pickup this first installment Payment of $5,000 without the Activation and Authorization charges of $290 if you verify the Transfer via Western Union, they will tell you there is no Money for you, due to the Activation has not been made as you have not Paid for the Activation

DEAR BENEFICIARY, THEIR IS A FEE OF $290 THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY TO ENABLE US TO RE-ACTIVATE YOUR PAYMENT FILE BEFORE YOU CAN BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FIRST $5,000 THAT HAS BEEN MADE ON YOUR NAME ALREADY THIS MORNING BUT HAS BEEN PLACED ON-HOLD UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE $290 FOR THE RE-ACTIVATION OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE PROCESS . THIS INFORMATION JUST REACHED OUR OFFICE NOW TO EVERY BENEFICIARY SO I WILL ADVISE YOU TO TRY AND GET THE $290 SEND TODAYM IN THE NEXT 120 MINUTES YOU WILL GET YOUR FIRST $5000 WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU.

You will make the payment via western union or money gram and Ria Money transfer

This is the payment info:

Receiver's Name: MR. THANKGOD SOJI
City & Country: Lagos,Nigeria
Amount: $290
Text Question: Good ?
Answer: God.

PAYMENT DETAILS TO SEND TO US

Senders Name………….
Senders address………
Senders Tel. Number
Money transfer control number (MTCN)

We are waiting your prompt response.

Thanks
Mrs. Grace Peter
Tell: +2348166609512
Skype Name: westernunionoffice51
Call Peter after payment with this number 0092348166609512
Payment Department

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam