419 scam: "WESTERN UNION"<philips_alberts@westernunion.com> PAYMENT INFORMATION

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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:

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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "md.philips_alberts@administrativos.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <md.philips_alberts@administrativos.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 23:41:40 +0200
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATION

WESTERN UNION?SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE
(c) 2009 MICROWESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER?
INSTALMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE
Website: www.westernunion.com
Email:md.philips_alberts@administrativos.com
Tel/Fax: +234-704232827
Western Union Instalmental Payments Only.
Attn: Beneficiary,
We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation Center,Inconjuction with the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent Akpakpa with the Uk Lottery Organization has approved the payment sum of $1.5 Million(One Million Five hundred thousand united states dollars) as a Dept Reconcilation Payments, for your Winning funds with Compensation Head office, deposited by the Uk Lottery Organisation for payment to you as the Winning owner/Beneficiary of the amount $1.5,000.000.00
After the Law Enforcement judgement between the Uk Lottery Organization Agent Mr. Goldman Smith and Compensation finance head office, The meeting was held on the 29th of February 2010, with the aformentioned office and banks,The Concluded arrangement was appointed at our office (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid Winning fund through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.
The Management of the Uk Lottery Organization Head Branch here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information's to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transfered under instalment at rate of $10,000 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $10,000 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under instalment of $10,000 daily till the amount is completely paid. In other words. We have today transferred your first instalmental payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $185.00 you supposed to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you daily.
You will pickup the bellow instalmental payment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information's as soon as you send the $185 usd endorsement & daily activation file fee. You are to track your first instalment payment online at www.westernunion.com OR Call Western Union tracking number 1-800-325-6000 for available fund for your verification purpose.
Payment information:
Track the payment here on:www.westernunion.com
MTCN=5155799503
Sender First Name =Madou
Sender Second name =Traore
(Track the mtcn with the 1-800-325-6000 or
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
Amount Programmed: $10,000 Usd
To Avoid any atom of mistake, you are hereby required to reconfirm your payment receiver's name and address to avoid any mistake of payment activation during activation process of your payment as soon as the daily endoursement charges is being confirmed over here.
Reconfirm the information as given to you below.
Receiver's Name:........
Receiver's address:..........
Receiver's Tel. Number :...........
Please note that the receiver's information is very vital to us as the activation of your daily instalmental payment will be directing to your receiver's name and address.
The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $185 Usd will be sending to our office here in care to our account officer Mr Michael Goodluck through western union Money Transfer nearest to you:
Cashier/Receiver's Name:Michael Goodluck
City & Country: Lagos,Nigeria
Amount: $185 Usd
Text Question: Good ?
Answer: God.
Once and immediately you make the payment,You are been required and advised to immediately acknowledge us with the transfer Mtcn to help us proceed with immediate transfer release of your instalmental payment without further delays.
Once your payment is being confirmed, we shall proceed with the activation of your payment for available for pickup in your country/Address.
Notice: This payment was approved by the Federal Ministry of Finances Abuja, Nigeria to the above Beneficiary name only.
We anticipate your kind co-operation.
Thanks For Using Western Union Office
Sincerely Regards,
Mr Philips Albert
Payment Department

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