419 scam: "Mr. PETER JOHNSON" <".s-yamada."@chive.ocn.ne.jp> 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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- +2299896529 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22998896529 (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.
- email-info.bankofafrica@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. PETER JOHNSON" <".s-yamada."@chive.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. PETER JOHNSON" <info.bankofafrica@post.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2016 22:10:01 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/
ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
WEB SITE; www.westernunion.com
PHONE NO; 00229-98-89-65-29
Email-info.bankofafrica@post.com
DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT BENIN

Dear Customer

You are welcome to Western Union Money Transfer head office Benin Republic. Compliment of the season, this is to notify all our customers about the latest development concerning all the payments that was left in our Bank, which your payment file is inclusive. Besides, you were given charges of $250 for activation of your daily installment account, but since then, we did not hear from you.

We are now offering a Special bonus to help all our customers that have pending payment in our bank, after 2016 end of the year auditing, the board of directors ordered that those involve should pay only 50% of the charges as 2016 bonanza to purchase total installment as approved by finance Ministry of this country.

Meanwhile, this is your opportunity to receive your total funds as approved and this bonanza payment will only last till 23rd decenber 2016, and after the bonanza, we shall transfer all our customer$B!G(Bs funds into Government Reserve account to avoid been questioned by the Federal Government for pending payment before entering our 2015 auditing program, this is the reason why we decided to notify all our customers for new development before entering into new project for the year 2017.

Therefore, you are advised to make the necessary payment immediately and confirm your receiver$B!G(Bs name, address for immediate transfer and collection of your daily transfer from any Western Union office or agent close to you.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION FOR THE FIRST TRANSFER WE PROGRAMMED TO BE SENT TO YOU, BUT IT REMAINS ON HOLD UNTIL YOU SEND 50% BONANZA PAYMENT BEEN $175.00 BEFORE WE CAN RELEASE THE FIRST $5,000 TO YOU, USE THIS WEB SITE TO TRACK YOUR PAYMENT

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

1. SENDER NAME:$B!D(B GARY MARK
2. TEST QUESTION:$B!D(B.WHAT COLOR?
3. TEST ANSWER:$B!D!D(BWHITE.
4. AMOUNT $B!D!D!D(B.$5,000 USD
5. MTCN$B!D(B.. 6690348967

Send the 50% bonanza payment to us through Western Union Money Transfer only to information below:

i) Receiver Name:ISAAC VIAHOU
ii) City/Country: COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC
iii) Bonanza Payment: $50
Question: WHAT
Answer: LOVE

For this moment, I will be very glad for your quick response with above mentioned so that I will quickly do the needful and finalize everything within 1:43pm our local time here, I am giving you every assurance that as soon as i receive the bonanza payment from you, i will activate your daily installment account and proceed with your first transfer of $5,000.00 before 1:43pm our local time because I will close once its 6:30pm

Please do not hesitate to contact us again should you require additional information or call +229 9896529 for further urgent attention, as we are here to serve you better. Thank You For Banking With Us.
Yours faithfully,

Mr. PETER JOHNSON
Managing Director
Western Union Foreign Operation
Telephone: +229 98896529

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam