419 scam: "Hon. Theresa Best"<info.n@westernunion.com> Western Union Compensation Debit MasterCard® Card 3

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +447035992118 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon. Theresa Best" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ell.cmfl@windowslive.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 22:02:04 -0400
Subject: Western Union Compensation Debit MasterCard® Card 3

WESTERN UNION .UK

Western Union International Limited,

Rt HonTheresa Best MP

Chancellor of the Exchequer

HM Treasury

Horse Guards Road

LONDON SW1A 2HQ

Ref: NCB/WU-000/CMB/324/09

Dear Beneficiary,

REF: YOUR PAYMENT VIA WESTERN UNION DEBIT MASTERCARD

This to acknowledge you that your e-mail address is found among those that have been scammed

in the name of UK government/UK as a country, and also other forms of scamms, for this reason you

have been compensated, and the Compensation have been approved from the House of Lords here in

London and we are asked to contact you by the UK government in collaboration with UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION on how to send

you the (£1,200,000)One Million Two Hundred Thousands Great Britain Pounds via WESTERN UNION MASTER CARD.

Due to the numerous fraudulent activities, we have resolved to implement the use of WESTERN UNION MASTER CARD for the release of your payment which will be issued by UK

BRANCH.

In this proposed payment scheme, your funds will be credited into a WESTERN UNION

ACCOUNT/PREPAID MASTER CARD which will enable you PICK UP AS MUCH AS GBP10,000 at

any ATM point or WESTERN UNION LOCATION close to you.

This is a WESTERN UNION new working initiative with the UK government and the United Nations

Organization which was put in place to curb the constant fraud activities associated with payments

such as this.

However for the purpose of official verification among other relevant details, it is imperative that you

supply WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER with the following requirements:

1. YOUR FULL NAME(S) AS WOULD REFLECT ON YOUR CARD.

2. FULL ADDRESS (SAFE FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CARD)

3. TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

4. AGE.

5. OCCUPATION.

6. ANY FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.(OPTIONAL)

CONTACT PERSON: MR. J Young Madlin, POSITION: PAYMENT DEPARTMENT, PRIVATE:EMAIL:

[justiceyoungmadlin@chatdd.com] EMAIL ADD: sec.rebdennis@chatdd.com TEL: +44 703 599 2118

All legal documentation including the anti money laundering in your favor is intact.

On receipt of your response, further directives shall be made available to you.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs.Theresa Best,

Chancellor of the Exchequer

................................................................................................................................................................

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam