419 scam: western union <westernumoneytransfer@hotmail.fr> The first $5,000 has just been sent:

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
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.
- +221773934625 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: western union <westernumoneytransfer@hotmail.fr>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:07:12 +0100
Subject: The first $5,000 has just been sent:

Send Money Worldwide
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
FROM THE DESK OF,
FINANCIAL MINISTER,
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL FAX +221- 77393- 4625.
Website: www.westernunion.com

-----------------------------------------------

Attn: Dear Client,

I
am writing to notify you that we have just transferred the first $5,000
to you today because we received an instruction from the Financial
Minister Trust Fund to proceed with the transferring of your fund
(750,000.00 GBP), you will be receiving $5,000 daily until the complete
fund is finally transferred to you, below
is the payment detail of the first $5,000 that we have just transferred
which you must pick up today as soon as you send the transfer charges
of $275 only, mind you that this transfer was placed on hold by
the F.M.T.F until you send the transfer charges to us before your fund
can be release for you to pick up, below is the information of the
first $5,000 that we have transferred to you today.

PAYMENT DETAILS:
Senders First Name: Alex Emmanuel
Senders Second Name: Egini
MTCN: 9166 7160 14
Website: www.westernunion.com

However,
you can track the status by clicking on our above Website and when it
opens then click on TRACKING then when is opens you fill the form by
fixing the MTCN {9166716014}, First Name {Alex Emmanuel} and Second Name
{Egini}, then click CHECK STATUS to find out that the transfer is
available for pick up by receiver which is {YOU}, but mind you that you
can only see
it available on your Computer but no Western Union over there in your
Country can see it correct because the F.M.T.F has placed it on hold
because of this requesting transfer charges of $275 only.

So
you have been instructed to kindly send the transfer charge immediately
to enable you pick up this money today, Below is our paying information
where you will send the money to as soon as possible.

Receivers Name:... Chris Paul.
City: .....................Dakar.
Country: ..............Senegal.
Text Question: ....How
Long?
Text Answer: ......Soonest.
Amount: ..............$275.00 only.

Endeavor to send to us the payment detail of the transfer as soon as you do send
the money (attach payment slip) for easy picking, once we receive this
transfer charges from you today then we shall release this first
transferred $5,000.00 to you immediately. We are looking forward to
receiving the payment information from you as soon as possible. Call us
on the above number immediately you send the money to enable us fasten
our services of releasing the transfer to you.

YOURS FAITHFULLY
HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
MR. CHRIS PAUL
MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL

Western Union®

Welcome to Western
Union

Send
Money
Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam