419 scam: "WESTERN UNION(U.S)"<western_union2018@usa.com> RE: 2018 CASH AWARD QUIZ

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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.
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. )
- ",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)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- western-union@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION(U.S)" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2018 07:52:40 +0100
Subject: RE: 2018 CASH AWARD QUIZ

From: Western Union Headquarters(U.S)
Office Of The Promotions
Manager. The International
Promotions/prize
Award Department.
Denver, Colorado,
United States.

2018 End Of The Year Quiz Promotions(emails only)

We officially thank all western union money transfer users all over the world and we are using this quiz promotions exercise to publicize our new brands. we are happy to inform you that Western Union is giving out $1,000,000.00 in this year question & answer quiz promo.

From over 6,000,000 provisional company and private email list ranging from different continents of the world (America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Oceania) randomly selected by our computerize “electronic random selection ballot system” (ERSBS) without a physical ticket sold. Your email address was attached to the Winning No:004632-09 and Reference No:wu01449076 and was selected as one of the 5 star lucky participants in this year quiz/answer promo.

***************Prizes Won*************

One Million United States Dollar{US$1,000,000.00}
One western union medium face-cap
Western union t-shirt{medium blended with cap}
Western union shopping bag{male wallet}

************Reference Details************

Winning Number: 004632-09.
Reference Number: WU01449076.

To redeem your ($1,000,000.00) won prize simply answer the questions correctly.

(1) In what year was western union money transfer founded?......
(2) Who are the founders of Western Union?
(3) who is the C.E.O of western union?.....
(4) How many states are there in USA?....

Send your name and correct answer to the promotion consultant/manager. Mr. Kevin Smith via his email {western-union@usa.com} for validation of winning and instructions to receive your prizes.

Copyright! 2018 the western union International promotions.
All rights reserved. Terms of service- guidelines

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CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. It contains information that is or may be confidential, non-public or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email and any such files in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email and/or any such files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please immediately notify the sender of this message and delete the original message and all copies from all locations in your computer systems
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam