419 scam: JAMES WILLIE <okwutenwagboma@gmail.com> DIRECTOR Western Union Payments

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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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- +22968584286 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: JAMES WILLIE <okwutenwagboma@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jamewillie1@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2022 17:16:38 +0200
Subject: DIRECTOR Western Union Payments

ATTENTION:

We acknowledge the payment of $50.00 in order to transfer your funds
to your address from the IMF)International Monetary Fund , Benin
Republic as approved and issued on your name. In accordance to the
conformation from this IMF today. Your payment file had been approved
and certified for install mental payments to your address all
requirements had been fulfilled by you except Affidavit of Funds if
you receive the fund you will have Document form IMF .But i want to
the High Court. To get It tham say that costs US$110.00 only. I was
told that you need to get the certificate from Benin high court to
show the real Beneficiary of the funds IS $3.5Million

According to the director of ministry of finance stated that such huge
amount cannot be release with out certificate of Document form IMF, so
I will advice you to send the cost of the "Affidavit of Funds Document
form IMF "of US$110.00. Only through WESTERN UNION MONEY transfer to
the name of Phino Johnson immediately to enable me secure the document
/address below:

Receiver name=====Phino Johnson
Country============Benin Republic
City===============Cotonou
Test Question=======TRUST
Answer============HONEST
M T C N===========
Senderâ€™s NAME=====
Amount===========$110

After sending the payment today Confirm MTCN number and sender's name,
address, Text Question & Text Answer to this office. On receipt of the
payment it will enable me to secure the Document form IMF " and
transfer your funds to your name. Be rest assure that once you pay the
$110 your fund will be transferred to you immediately and i will send
to you the MTCN number to enable you pick up the fund from western
union and i will use the same TEXT QUESTION: TRUST TEXT ANSWER:
HONEST So please send the money with this name as i told you Phino
Johnson .So you have to hurry and send the money immediately to enable
me meet up on what we have at hand,

Yours faithfully,
DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE
MR. FRANK NWAEKE JR
BENIN REPUBLIC,
+229 68584286,

Yours faithfully,
REGARDS,
DR. JAMES WILLIE
DIRECTOR Western Union Payments
Phone +229 67206750

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam