419 scam: HEAD OFFICE <"ww."@topaz.ocn.ne.jp> DEAR CUSTOMER,

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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. )
- "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.
- +22998795179 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: HEAD OFFICE <"ww."@topaz.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr AUNG DIBIE <wu7175289@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2017 22:08:04 +0900 (JST)
Subject: DEAR CUSTOMER,

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD , COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN .FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE :+229 9879 51 79
DEAR CUSTOMER,

I though we have passed the stage of your doubt for this payment for now especially when the first payout fees of $5000 USD is currently in your names.

However, my word is my bond and you must have to take it that way, I think you must do all you can to ensure that you get the money and send it to the management today or Tomorrow because this is just two weeks programs which will end on Thursday, otherwise, you are out of it, the memo from the paying head office over this overdue debt payment reconciliation clearly stated that they will terminate your payment Thursday if you fail to send the money today or Tomorrow as they will not allow this payment to cross over to the Next week, I don't know what else to do, We have given you enough time and notifications and I wonder if they can listen to us to extend this to next day otherwise you will loose your paid fund of $5.4m per $5000 USD daily payment as approved in your names and that is shameful and ridiculous. Let me know when you have done this so I can release the text questions and answer for you to proceed and pick the first pending $5000 USD.

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

MTCN: 6104811795
Senderâ€™s Name: Debra Hunter
4.AMOUNT ..$5,000 USD

(Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 48HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

1.RECEIVER NAME:......MR. DENNIS ILOCHI
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4..TEST QUESTION:.....HOW LONG?
5.TEST ANSWER:......TODAY.
6.AMOUNT ...........ANY

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW

REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229 9879 51 79 MR. AUNG DIBIE FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC .

MR. AUNG DIBIE
GENERAL OPRATION MANAGER.
VITAL FINANCE
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
TELEPHONE NUMBER:+229 9879 51 79
Western UnionÂ®
Send Money Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam