419 scam: "WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CENTER.BG" <info@western.com> WESTERN UNION AWARD NOTICE

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22999445638 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CENTER.BG" <info@western.com>
Reply-To: western.union.bg@56788.com
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 20:02:39 +0100 (CET)
Subject: WESTERN UNION AWARD NOTICE

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION AWARD CENTER,

You have been awarded a sum of USD$1.500,000,00 by the Western Union 2014
Board Award Group, This award was selected through automated internet
system drawn randomly
across the globe, where your e-mail address emerged as the lucky winner.

Your fund of One Million Five Hundred thousand United State Dollars has
been forwarded to Western Union Online money Transfer for Yourimmediate
transfer, Your payment will be sent to you by western Union Online
Transfer , you will be receiving $5,000.00 )twice per day only

many people have received their fund through this
Western union Minister Trust Funds of Benin Republic which is the saver
and reliable with less cost.The Director administrator trust funds have
already signed To Release
your payment, now you are free to comply with WEMACO payment office,

kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment
by Western Union per$5,000 Daily. Mrs Director Emerson E.Solomon Director
Western union Minister Trust Funds Benin Republic Department Benin,
Mobile:+229 6886-6441 E-mail(western.union.bg@56788.com)

The Western Union Payment Center
has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any
further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any
hitches in receiving your payment. Note that the administrator payment
needs this detail from you to process your payment:Please provide Dr
Emerson E.Solomon with the following details for your claims.

Your full name_________________
Your address___________________
Your country___________________
Your age_______________________
Your Sex_______________________
Your occupation________________
Your Phone number_____________

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Sir
Emerson.E.Solomon, he will start sending your payment by Western Union
Online Transfer,
Know That You Will be Responsible For The Transfer Charge Which Is The Sum
Of Usd$230 Only.

On Your Contact To Emerson.E.Solomon They Will Send You Their Receivers
Information On How You will Send The money Direct to them,
And do let me know immediately you start receiving your money.

E-mail:western.union.bg@56788.com
Tel:+229 9944-5638
Thanks for using western union
Best Regards
Dr.BARRY LINDA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam