419 scam: "Mr.James Godwill " <"westernunion."@jewel.ocn.ne.jp> FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22996058576 (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.
- westernunionpayoffice001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Godwill " <"westernunion."@jewel.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.James Godwill " <westernunionpayoffice001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 18:03:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Welcome to Western Union Benin Republic.
Email;westernunionpayoffice001@gmail.com
Phone number:+229-960 58 576
Send Money Worldwide
Send Money
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.

TO THE EMAIL OWNER ONLY ,

Thanks for your mail dated on 02/10/2018 and we do apologies for our late respond due to that we were busy attending other customers. Secondly, I am Mr Robert White the Western Union Payment office Director Benin Republic, Please you are advice to go read this email very well and make sure you understand the contents and get back to us,Before I proceed, I would like urgently clarify and assure you that this is not a joke or any kind of games that has to do with fraud or identity thief because the said winning contractual approved $1.500.000.00 existence and your name. Ready to be released to you as quickly as possible through this method of western union payment. I repeat, this is real, genuine and above real, legal and 100% risk free financially from your side, because every information Contained here and in the previous message as confirmed by Mrs. Linda Barnard from government payment office, sent to you or in the near future are nothing but truth,However, We were instructed by federal Ministry to transfer your funds to you via our service (western union money transfer office) so you will be receiving $5000.00 usd daily until it complete the total amount of one million Five hundred thousand united state dollars ($1.5m) as we have in our file he.In addition, I write to let you know that $500.00 has been sent but it is under the system of on hold. For the reason that you are required to pay for the Re-newing of your file payment Account which is $155.00 for the safety of the funds and security purposes but Being a Director General, I have used my influence to send your first payment of $5, 000.00 but it was placed on hold due to the Re-newing of your file payment is not yet paid. So you are required as a matter of urgency to send the Re-newing of your file payment of $155.00 so that the $5, 000.00 being sent to you will be available in any Western Union Office in your city and you can pick it up immediately.

And honestly am here to inform you that I am a man of God and cannot play game or deceive you. just pay the $155.00 and leave me and my God because God is watching me if I am telling you lies. Maybe you have past through something like this before. But am here to assured you that you will start receiving daily payment the same day you pay the fee. just drop your old experience and follow my instruction a man of God and you will know what it means to follow somebody that fear God And my God who is my witness that i cannot deceive you because my bible says what shall it profit a man to gain material things and loose his soul. send this $155.00 i know is big amount but is too small for the amount which you will start receiving within 48hours okay.you will send it through western union with this information bellow.

Receiver======Lucky Oloh
Country========Benin Republic
City:==========Cotonou
country code=====00229
Question=======.When
Answer=========Today
Amount.========$155.00 us-dollar
Sender's name======...
MTCN==============...

Awaiting to receive the payment information. Thank you for your understand and God bless you.
Do not fail to reply.

Regards,
Mr.James Godwill the Manager Of Western union department
Benin Republic;
Call For Urgent.+229-960 58 576

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam