419 scam: "Mrs. Cecelia Henry."<info@usa.net> Your First Payment of US$5,000.00 Is Avaliable!

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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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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.
- wu.moneytrransfer022@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Cecelia Henry." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu.moneytrransfer022@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 May 2022 09:08:58 -0700
Subject: Your First Payment of US$5,000.00 Is Avaliable!

Dear Beneficiary,

We want to inform you that after the meeting the president of Benin and International Monetary Fund (IMF) held yesterday, they decided to approve and authorize the Western Union Office Benin Republic to transfer the sum of US$1,500.000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to you as a compensation to those who was involved in a scam victim which your name and address appears in our ballot system as one of the beneficiary to receive the fund and we have program that you will be receiving the sum of $5,000.00 twice everyday until the total fund is transferred to your possession completely.

Meanwhile we have issued the first installment of $5,000 in your name and below is the information to show you that this transaction is genuine and legit that once you obey and follow the direction, you will start receiving the fund as programmed.

1) Sender Name: JOY MARTINS

2) Country: BENIN

3) Text Question: A1

4) Text Answer: A2

5) Amount: $5,000.00 USD

6) MTCN Number: 076-567-1903

But unfortunately, the payment was (ON-HOLD) that you can not pick up because you are required to pay the sum of $195.00Us Dollars for RE-BOOST ACTIVATION and please remember to re-confirm your information below to enable us renew and update your file to avoid any mistake.

Your Full Name: ___

Your Residential Address: ___

Your Telephone Number: ____

Your Marital Status/Age/Sex:_____

Use this information below to contact us for your payment.

Regards,

Mr. James White (WU Manager)

Telephone: (+229) 9194 7764

Email: wu.moneytrransfer022@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam