419 scam: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <wmwesternunionmoneytransfer84@gmail.com> Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 0058866817

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <wmwesternunionmoneytransfer84@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 11:13:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 0058866817

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
WEB:http://site.www.westernunion.com/

ATTENTION

I want you to be informed that your first payment of $5,000. has been sent to you and the payment is currently avaliable to pick up by you but the western union over there in your country can not pay you the money due to an instruction from IMF Office ( International Monetary Fund ) they told us to put the money on hold,so that you may not by any chance pick the fund untill you fulfill the neccessary financial obligations for the transfer of your funds and send the $95. 00 as it cannot be deducted from your principal fund due to the sensitive nature of the transfer of your funds and the comprehensive insurance cover against lost on transit which will help to avoid anybody else having any access to your total funds $850, 000 00 usd untill it is completely sent to you;

The IMF and United Nations authority FINANCIAL SUPPERVISSION Team instructed us the western union here to hold the fund so that you can not pick the money until you pay the transfer charges of your funds And the IMF further decleared that immediately you send the $95. 00 then the first $5,000 will be released to you to pick the money and for us to continue the transaction. Now, for you to confirm the payment. Here is the payment informations of the $5,000. we sent to you to day .

The payment is currently avaliable to pick up by you.

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 0058866817
Sender First Name: Poul
Sender Last Name: Astrup
MTCN===========0058866817
QUESTION========IN GOD
ANWSER=======WE TRUST
Amount=========$5,000.00 USD

So for you to confirm the payment. Track the fund online and see that the $5,000. is avaliable to pick up by receiver. But you can not pick it due to the above reason/s. Please be informed that we can not release the transfer without you having fulfilled all your financial obligation/s as required by the International Monetary Fund(IMF).

Therefore, you need to pay the transfer charges of your funds as instructed by the IMF which will cost you $95. 00 only. Please, I will advise you to make this payment so that we the western union will release your fund today.

So kindly send the $95. 00USD. through western union money transfer with this information's BELOW;

RECEIVER'S------------MR. MACHI EMMANUEL
COUNTRY------------BENN REPUBLIC
CITY-----------COTONOU
TEST QUESTION----------IN GOD
TEST ANSWER----------WE TRUST
AMOUNT NEEDED---------$95USD.

Furthermore, the total amount to be transfered to you from this office is $850, 000 00USD. as instructed by Mr. JOHN MIKE from the Ministry of Finance Cotonou-Benin Republic.

THANKS,
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER COTONOU,BENIN REPUBLIC..

MR. PETER BENSON.
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam