419 scam: "Mr Karl John"<p.chambers@sasktel.net> Attention Dear Beneficiary

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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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- ubawesternunioncontact001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Karl John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ubawesternunioncontact001@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:04:11 -0800
Subject: Attention Dear Beneficiary

Attention Dear Beneficiary ,

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is compensating those that have

unclaimed funds, and your email address was found in the unclaimed

fund list. This Western Union office has been mandated by the IMF to

transfer your compensation to you via Western Union Money Transfer.

We have investigated and found out that you are the rightful owner.

However, we have concluded to effect your own payment through Western

Union Money Transfer, $4,000 daily until the total sum of

$950,000.00 USD is completely transferred to you.

We may not be able to send the payment with your email address

alone,thereby we need your information to where we will be sending the

funds

to you, such as;

Receiver's name ________________

Address ________________

Country __________________

Telephone number ________________

Occupation ________________

Attached copy of your Identification ___________

Age ________________________

Email address ________________________

We will start the transfer as soon as we received your information:

Contact email (ubawesternunioncontact001@gmail.com)

Thanks,

yours faithfully,

esq

Karl John

Foreign Operation Manager Western Union

Payment Office Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam