419 scam: WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION <westernunionfdt@yahoo.com> Western Union Payment.

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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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- alexx_wade@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION <westernunionfdt@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernunionfoundations@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:01:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Western Union Payment.

ATTN:Honorable Beneficiary.

Dear Beneficiary,

We are here to notify you that the sum of US$850,000.00 was generated and awarded to you by the Western Union Foundation as one of our customers who use Western Union in their business transaction.

This
award was been selected through the internet, where your e-mail address
was indicated and notified.The Western Union Foundation,Ghana collects all the email addresses of the people that are active
online,among the millions of our customers who use Western Union in
their business transactions.Two people are selected Monthly to benefit
from this promotion and you are one of the Selected Winners.

Now
we have arranged your payment of Eight Hundred and fifty Thousands
United State Dollars(US$850,000.00) to be sent to you through Western Union Money Transfer. We will be sending the money to you via Western Union Money Transfer, the amount you will receive per
day is $19,000.As We have concluded to effect your payment through western union Money Transfer.You will be picking up $19,000 daily until the US$850,000.00 is completed.

You are required to contact the Western Union Money Transfer Office via email or phone as listed bellow for an immediate release of your funds to you.

Contact Person:Mr.Alexander Wade,
Director of Operation,Western Union,
Ghana,West Africa.
Phone:+233277946761
E-mail:alexx_wade@yahoo.com

Tell
him to give you the full payment informations,including the MTCN
number,Sender name,Question and answer for you to pick up your first
payment of $19,000.00 Dollars.

Ask him to send to you a proof,
the ownership certificate of the Fund. It is for you to be sure that
the fund belong to you. Make sure you send the following informations
to the Western Union Officer to enable him process your payment:

Your Full
name:
Country:
City:
Phone number:
Occupation:
Age:

Comply
now because as soon as you send the above required details to
Mr.Alexander Wade, he will start sending your payment by Western Union
Money Transfer.His contact email is(alexx_wade@yahoo.com).

Yours Faithfully,
Management,Western Union Foundation.
Website:foundation.westernunion.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam