419 scam: "Mr.Wayne Power" <vincenzo.amati49@alice.it> Congratulation!

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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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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 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.
- r.ejide@yahoo.com.tw (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Wayne Power" <vincenzo.amati49@alice.it>
Reply-To: r.ejide@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2015 15:06:10 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Congratulation!

Attention Dear Customer,

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer , Benin Republic.

We are sending you this alert to notify you that we have already sent
you$5000USD through our Western Union Office here in Cotonou, as we have given
the mandate to transfer your full Inheritance payment the total sum of
$1.500,000.00USD via Western Union by our Banking department..

We have tried so many times to E-mail you with the WesternUnion payment Details
but the messages kept showing failure delivery, Luckily We have tried re-
sending the email to you this morning with all the Western Union payment
information for you to pick up the money from any outlet Western Union around
you, such as MTCN and Sender Name so that you will pick up this $5000 to
enable us send another $5000 today, for your information we can only transfer
three payments to you per a day which is $15,000.00 USD.

Please copy all this information and contact us via our direct phone line
is+229 6192 3500, Manager: Mr. Raymond Ejide,Email:{r.ejide@yahoo.com.tw} call
or E-mail us once you receive this email.(r.ejide@yahoo.com.tw)

NOTE: Your fund is transferred from United Nations Debt Release Unit to our
bank's Western Union Department, and you will be required to make a once
payment of $97 usd for our Administrative/VAT rate charge. Once this payment is
confirmed, we will send you an alert to proceed for pick up of the sent
payment.

These are the details which you will use to pick up your first $5000.......

Website;https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=NG
Sender first name:Peteking ikechukwu
Sender second name:Igweze
Amount Sent $5,000
Mtcn# .6483054004
Text Question: When
Text Answer: Now

Kindly use below Information to make the payment:

Receiver Name: Okey Paulo
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Question: Season
Test Answer: Summer
Amount: $97usd

Haven made the payment; we will send you information for you to pick up your
first payment in just 6hrs after activation, as we will also call you on phone
if you can provide your current phone number, for security purpose.

We'll be waiting for your update today with the payment information such as
MTCN number and the rest details.

Yours in Service
Mr.Wayne Power

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam