419 scam: western union <western.union606111@yahoo.pt> Dear Customer

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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 gram" (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. )
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22996132072 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- western_union6063@yahoo.com.sg (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: western union <western.union606111@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: western union <western_union6063@yahoo.com.sg>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:45:20 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Customer

Â Â Dear Customer

We are happy to inform you officially that we have this morning received approval letter from Federal Ministry of Finance Office authorizing our Bank to program a total sum of $7,500.000.00 USD and pay you through our western union Digital transfer system for your easy pickup and warned against any unforeseen delay that could make your funds not to get to you in a timely manner.

The Federal Ministry of Finance chairman (Hon. Idriss Daouda) have submitted your payment file to the Benin Consulate for screening and all data have being confirmed correct to pay you a total sum of $7,500.000.00 USD as a result overdue contract payments so far. We have been advised to send you total of $5000.00 USD every day because Western Union laws here in Benin can only permit a transfer for maximum of $5000.00 USD every day, but you can provide more different names such as your wife and children around you.

We have today transferred your first $5000.00 available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you but the payment was still on hold due to the dormant activation fee of $95.00 USD which you supposed to pay for activation of domiciliary account where your funds was deposited before your transfer will be posted for your pickup.

On above transfer status, you will understand that your first $5000.00 USD transfer is available for your pickup at any office once we activate the domiciliary account in your name which required that you the beneficiary of this payment will pay fee of $95.00 USD to below information through Western Union or Money Gram office nearest to you for urgent pick up your first payment today.

Send the money to this below name and information via western union or MoneyGram. and remember to forward the payment details to us immediately you make the payment such as the MTCN control numbers and the sender name.

Receive Name:...........Samuel Iwunor
City & Country:..... Cotonou-Benin
Text Question:.... ...Color
Answer:... ..... Green
Amount: $95.00 USD
MTCN:.........
Sender:........

The moment we receive the activation fee from you, we shall without any hesitation activate the account in your name and post your first $5000 and scan copy of your Western Union transfer slip will forward to you along for your easy collection at any Western Union office or Bank nearest to you.

What I want to tell you now is this, no-matter the condition you may find yourself right now, I am advising you to look for means of borrowing this $95.00 USD and make sure you send it immediately because I can assure you that this is the only thing holding you from receiving your first payment today.

I don't want you to doubt me on this because after you have send the money you must surely share the testimony to your family and to the church where you worship. I am giving you every assurance that you will be entitled to receive $5000.00 USD on daily basis through Western Union Money transfer cash in minutes.

Urgently proceed with the payment for immediate activation and release of your first $5000 today.
We wait to receive your confirmation.

Thanks for using our service
Sincerely.

Mr. Dr. Obiefune Anthony,
Managing Director Foreign Operation
Western Union Department (DBB)Tel: +229 96132072.
E-mail: western_union6063@yahoo.com.sg

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam