419 scam: "DR. MICHEAL PROSPER" <drmichealprosper55@gmail.com> my good friend

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
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.
- westernunionm433@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. MICHEAL PROSPER" <drmichealprosper55@gmail.com>
Reply-To: andrewphilip2212@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0800
Subject: my good friend

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Worldwide
Department Of Western Union United States Of America. Address 1
Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10006, United States Of America Greetings
>From Western Union Office Department

This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed
to transfer your $12.5 Million Dollars compensating for all the SCAM
VICTIMS and you email were found as one of the VICTIMS By America
Security leading team, and America representative officers, therefore
between now till 5th January 2022 you will be receiving the sum of
$5000 dollars per day. However we are informed you that we have
already sent the first $5000 dollars this morning to avoid
cancellation of your payment, Remain the total sum of $12.5 Million
Dollars You have only six hours to reply this office upon the receipt
of this Email the maximum amount you will be receiving per a day
starting from today is $5000 and the Money transfer reference number
of today is below.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT GO NOW TO ANY Western
union LOCATION IN YOUR CITY AND PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT. ONCE YOU
PICK IT UP YOU LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE WILL SEND TO YOU YOUR SECOND
PAYMENT. Track the MTCN track) by visiting:::::::::
https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer Money
Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): # 994-833-3151
Sender Name: DANIEL ROBERT
Amount Sent= $5000 usd.

NOTE; That your first $5000 is on hold because of the instruction from
IMF office, they asked us to place it on hold by requesting the Clean
Bill Record Certificate in order to fulfill the entire necessary
obligation So that we will start sending you the payment through
Western Union Office Money transfer, the necessary Obligation i mean
here is to obtain the Clean Bill Record Certificate from the Federal
High Court. We need the below details from you to enable us place the
payment to your name and transfer the fund to you.

KINDLY FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Your Full Name: ___
Your Country: __
Your Direct Telephone Numbers: ___
Your Current Home Address: _
Your Current Occupation: _________
Your Age: ___________
Your Email Address: ____

Further more you advised to reply us as the instruction was passed
that Within 6 hours without hearing from you, Name: Mr.DANIEL ROBERT
Manager Director for Western Union New York USA.
contact him via email westernunionm433@gmail.com
Texting +1 (605) 646-2191

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam