419 scam: WESTERN UNION PAY DESK <yusufupet@vodafone.it> CONTACT WITH YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS

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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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "westeruniontransfer.dept41@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westeruniontransfer.dept41@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998938786 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION PAY DESK <yusufupet@vodafone.it>
Reply-To: westeruniontransfer.dept41@live.fr
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:42:17 -0700
Subject: CONTACT WITH YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS

Attn; Recipient,

Please be informed that the funds are coming directly from the International
Monetary Funds headquarters and we are only to

pay beneficiaries once they meet their financial obligations.

Also note that Western Union is not allowed to make all payment at once via
western union money transfer due to the way the

fund came to our headquarters and for security reasons, upon receipt of your
fees and your International Remittance File

purchased, you are receiving a first pay-out of $10,000 which is made into
two halves which will enable you walk into any

Western Union office of your choice and pick up your funds. Note that the
remaining fund/payment will be made install

mentally in the following order:

1. $10,000 made payable to you from the Western Union
2. $740,000 made payable to you via bank wire transfer from our designated
paying bank.

Upon receipt of the fee for the purchasing of your international remittance
file, you are receiving your first pay-out of

$10,000.00

According to the Section 636(1) of the LPN CAF of the 1999 constitution
regarding a contract like you will have to make the

payment of the $85.00usd so as to enable the purchasing of your inheritance
file to prevent illegal transfer of your funds or

any form of hindrance.

Here are details of your money transfer of $10,000 made on your behalf but
it has no receiver's name yet until you remit the

$85.00 to us before we can purchase the inheritance file with your name and
put your name as the receiver below is the

information you will use to send us the fee $85.00 Via western union.

RECEIVERS NAME________DONALD OKOLI
COUNTRY___________________BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY___________________COTONUO
TEXT QUESTION____________TRANSFER CODE
ANSWER___________________001
MTCN________________

Then after you send the money you can send the payment information to our
email below.

Director; Mr.Amed Bello
E-Mail :(westeruniontransfer.dept41@live.fr )
Direct line: +229-989-38-786

As soon as we receive the payment of the $85.00 from you then we pick it up
we well put your name as the receive and you will

go to western union and pick the money.

PAYMENT DETAILS MADE FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION!!!

Amount: $5,000 USD
MTCN: 895-028-3159

Amount: $5,000 USD
MTCN: 235-375-1811

Sender’s First Name: Donald
Sender's Last Name: Okoli

You can log onto our website www.westernunion.com and track your transfer
and see that your money is there but needed the

above stated fee to redirect the transfer to you for your easy pick up. Note
that within 72hrs if you do not remit the

required $85.00 which has already been made ($10,000) it will be withdrawn
back and remember that the money details given to

you do not bear your name as the receiver until you make the payment of the
$85.00

Get back to us with our E-Mail:( westeruniontransfer.dept41@live.fr) with
the payment information one you made the payment

and you can call on my direct line if you have any question OK.

Call for confirmation of receipt of this message on: +229-989-38-786
Have a good day.

Regards,
Yusufu H. Peter(ESQ)
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam