419 scam: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <westernuniontransferdesk@gmail.com> Your Transfer Status

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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:
- "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.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22999957514 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <westernuniontransferdesk@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2010 10:21:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Your Transfer Status

WESTERN
UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT

REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT
OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-99957514

Attention: Beneficiary,

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 installmentally 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
$10,000.00usd

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 usd 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.

RECEIVER NAME      IS   SOLOMON
YOUNG
COUNTRY                  IS      REPUBLIC OF
BENIN
CITY                          IS      COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION
IS      TRANSFER CODE
ANSWER                  IS      001

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

Contact
Name: Mr. Lay Williams
Contact Direct line: 0022999957514

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.So you are to
re-confirm to them the below information once you send this
$85.00.

Here Is The Senders
Information!!!

Amount: $5,000 USD
MTCN:
785-638-7884
Sender`s first name ahmed
Sender's last name
karzani

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

Get back to us 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 : 0022999957514
Have a good day.

Regards,
Williams Boni
Western Union®
Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam