419 scam: "$MR.Larry Moore$ officer in charge" <omaopahk@verizon.net> Your western union Special bonus/URGENT

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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. )
- "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)
- "western-union0109@ws.tc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "western-union0109@ws.tc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998553760 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "$MR.Larry Moore$ officer in charge" <omaopahk@verizon.net>
Reply-To: western-union0109@ws.tc
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 04:05:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your western union Special bonus/URGENT

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-985-53-760
EMAIL(western-union0109@ws.tc)
Â
Attention: Beneficiary,

This is to notify all our clients about the latest development concerning all the PAYMENT that are left in our custody. which yours are inclusive Besides, your where given a bill of $150.00. in order to receive your PAYMENT of which we didnâ€™t hear from you for sometime now.
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Hence, our (WESTERN UNION) is now offering a Special bonus to help all our customers that are having their PAYMENT in our custody due-to because of price. in order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $80.00 to receive all their PAYMENT abandoned in our custody.
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Besides,this is the opportunity for you and have to comply and your funds shall be transfer to your destination address.
But note that after (4 DAYS) you did not make the payment of $80.00 then we will divert your funds to government fund avoid problem or we will cancel the payment because this year is not last year,
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So be advise to send $80.00. immediately you receive this mail if you still wiling to claim your payment so that we will register your payment once we receive the transfer charges because you will start receiveing your payment as from tomorrow morning by 11 am our time here.
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After the payment of $80.00 we will give the full information's to pick up your first payment of $8,000.00 through western union, Send the $80.00 through Western Union Money gram with the information below:

RECEIVER NAME: ======= CHINEDU CHARLES DIBOR
COUNTRY: ======== BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY: ======== COTONOU
QUESTION===========GOD
ANSWER: ===========BLESS
AMOUNT: ===========US$80.00

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Forward the payment as below after sending the payment to enable us pick up the money in this Department office here.
MTCN.......,
sender name.......
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Note: that we do this to help all our customers so don't delay because any delay will make us to cancel your payment or divert payment to government to avoid problem because we don't have such time to delay anymore Call if you have any question.

I am looking forward to receive the payment of $80.00. immediately you send it to enable us to give your the full information's which you will use to pick up your payment in any western union but fall to do so you will loose your payment because your have only 4days after that no more.
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I wish you good luck.A

Yours in service
Director (MR.Larry Moore) officer in charge !!!
EMAIL(western-union0109@ws.tc)
Western Union Department Head office
republic of Benin, Call +229-985-53-760

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam