419 scam: Western Union Money Transfer <info@westernunion.com> Western Union Customer Appreciation Email Awards

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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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "international money order" (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. )
- "money order " (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 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.
- info.ups.shipping@deliveryman.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Money Transfer <info@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: ups.shippings@deliveryman.com
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:47:06 -0300
Subject: Western Union Customer Appreciation Email Awards

Western Union Money Transfer
Western Union Financial Services Inc.
P.O. Box 4430
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Ref: UKRAINE/942072/03
Batch: 0150/550322/ZY

Dear Email Owner,

The Board of Directors of Western Union in conjunction with Ukrainian
Financial Group(UFG)
are pleased to announce you as one of the 3 lucky winners in the 2011
edition of ''Western Union Customer Appreciation Email Awards'' held
in Kiev,Ukraine.

The ''Western Union Customer Appreciation Email Awards'' of Western
Union Money Transfer is a promotional draw,where participants do not
buy tickets but their email addresses are luckily selected.

About One million email addresses were selected and entered into the
draws and your email address consequently emerged as one of the
three(3) lucky winners as this entitles you to a Western Union
International Money Order for the sum of$1,000.000.00 dollars.

Your Western Union International Money Order for One Million
Dollars($1,000,000.00)is cash-able at any Bank or Western Union Outlet
in your Country.

Banks and Western Union Outlets in your Country will only accept the
original copy of your Western Union International Money Order in other
to pay you.

Contact the Ups Parcel Service Ukraine
on(info.ups.shipping@deliveryman.com) with your details for the
immediate shipping of the original copy of your Western Union
International Money Order for One Million Dollars($1,000,000.00)

Congratulations and Best of Luck!

Sincerely,
Hikmet Ersek
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4430
Bridgeton, MO 63044

Disclaimer:The content and operations of this awards have been
endorsed by Western Union Money Transfer in conjunction with Ukrainian
Financial Group(UFG) ©2011 All Rights Reserved.
Western Union security personnel will give you information about
Internet scams and what measures you can take to protect yourself.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam