419 scam: SANI ABU <britt_ahlenius12@att.net> WESTERN UNION MONEY PAYMENT

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- westernunionmark002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SANI ABU <britt_ahlenius12@att.net>
Reply-To: asni0801@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:54:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY PAYMENT

Attn : Honorable Beneficiary,

Good News for you, Go now and pick up your $5,000 payment by western union now as we have arranged your payment of ($850.000.00 USD) in atm payment card to be sent to you through western union money transfer payment: Your payment will sent to you by western union, the amount you will receive per day is $5,000.

The Minister on Foreign Payment in Nigeria will send you the current standards tracking details you need to pick up your $5,000 payment by western union and you will receive your payment of $5,000 every day till you receive the total sum $850.00.000 united state dollars, there is no need to send you the swift atm card anymore because you can not be able to withdraw the atm card due to the atm master card contain large sum on it.

The Minister on Foreign Payment have already signed your payment, however, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by western union. Contact person Mr. Mark James, western union department Financial Bank In Nigeria.

Contact Tel: and Contact E-mail: ( westernunionmark002@gmail.com )

The financial Bank 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 incharge of your payment needs the following details from you to process your payment today :

Receiver name--
Country--
City--
Tel--
Own secret Test question--
Own Answer--
Sex--
Age--
ID--attach copy of drivers license,

Comply immediately because as soon as you send the required details to Mr Mark James he will start sending your payment by western union and issue to you a confirmable mtcn for easier pick-up by you.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Regards.
Dr. Sani Abu
Pan-Africa Mortgage & Finance

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam