419 scam: "Mr. Johnson Ibe" <"www."@drive.ocn.ne.jp> Attention Beneficialey,

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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 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.
- wuniontr@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Johnson Ibe" <"www."@drive.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Johnson Ibe" <wuniontr@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2017 19:42:15 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Beneficialey,

Attention Beneficialey,

Information reaching us from our corporate head quarters now, states that you
only have 48hours to effect payment for the

activation of your MTCN to enable you cash up your
first $5000:00 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 at hand for the activation fee since

you are not able to come up with the required sum, time is of the essence here.

You are to pay what ever you have at hand for the activation fee; we will
activate your MTCN upon receipt of this payment.

here is the payment for the $5000usd but we have pick it up because the
chairman of the western union say that before you

pick that money you must pay any amount you have at hand out of listed Amount
bellow ok.

Contact Mr. Johnson Ibe Operations Manager.Western Union Department,
My direct phone line is +(678) 759-3990
Email address (wuniontr@gmail.com)

And you can track it right now with our website www.westernunion.combefore you
going to western union to send the activation

fee of any Amount you
have at hand out of listed mount and see that the money was picked up by my
assistant Accountant

officer who send the money to you and here is the information, Track your MTCN
by using our website bellow:

https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransferMTCN NUMBER
IS: 1566731111

MTCN: 1566731111
Sender Name: FELIX ANAGOR,
Text Question: 4HRS
Answer: TIME
Amount: $5000SD

Be informed that you will have to pay the balance
sum of your activation upon cashing up of your first $5000.00USD, 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

of which you will and can never cash up the balance, so I want you to send any
Amount have at hand for the activation fee out

of list Amount with the information bellow.

1. Receiver name... CHI MARK
2. Country...Benin Republic.
3. City...Cotonou
4. Test question...HOW LONG
5. Test answer...24HOUR
Sender name.....
and Address.....
6. Amount you sent any amount

Send us the MTCN number immediately you send the money and immediately
we confirm the transfer fee we will send you the first receipt of your
$5000.00 today and not tomorrow

Best regards
Mr Michael Edo,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam