419 scam: Western Union Money Transfer <bkbologna@fastwebnet.it> Western Union Office

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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. )
- "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 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.
- +447011196960 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- west.uniontransfer@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Money Transfer <bkbologna@fastwebnet.it>
Reply-To: west.uniontransfer@london.com
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 06:20:51 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Western Union Office

Welcome To Western Union Money Transfer
Website: www.westernunion.com
Dear Western Union Customer,

This is the second email we are sending you now after two weeks, if you get this
one, we write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00USD dollars t
hrough our Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full
compensation payment of $800,000.00USD via Western Union by the government.

So, we have decided to email you the MTCN and sender name, so you can
pick up this $5000.00USD to enable us send another $5000.00USD by tomorrow as yo
u know we will be sending you only $5000.00USD per day.

Please pick up this information and run to any Western Union in your country and
your full name is the receivers name and don't forget that you have 2 hours to
pick up this money after receiving our mail, if you don't the money will be put
on hold be the management, due to hacker's online, so that they don't steal the
money, that is why we didn't include your name in our mail.

Pick up the $5000.00USD and call us back to send you another payment
tomorrow.

Call or email us once you picked up this $5000.00USD today.

Here is the western union information to pick up the$5000.00.USD

Manager: Mrs. Green David
Phone: +4470111 96960
Email: west.uniontransfer@london.com or wes.uniontransfer@fastservice.com

Sender Information's

Sender's First name: Kevin
Sender's Last name: Johnson
MTCN: 2920654161
Amount;=5,000, USD
Test Question;= Pay
Test Answer;= Cash

For verification Kindly call our International service number +18003256000 or +4
48007314814 and follow the voice prompt.

then insert the control number above to hear the availability of your funds rea
dy for pick up.

Please you are to check the status of the transfer before going to any western u
nion office and you can also check the status via our web site below.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Note: that we do this to help all our customers, so don't delay because any dela
y will make us to cancel your payment or put the money on hold to avoid problem
because you must pick it up in 2 hours after receiving our mail.

Regards,
Mrs. Green David.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam