419 scam: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE_Money_Transfer?= <western.uniontransfer30@live.fr> WESTERN UNION BENIN ANNIVERSARY DAY BONUS UPDATE

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "western.uniontransfer30@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "western.uniontransfer30@live.fr" (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.
- +22998679345 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE_Money_Transfer?= <western.uniontransfer30@live.fr>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:22:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: WESTERN UNION BENIN ANNIVERSARY DAY BONUS UPDATE

WESTERN UNION BENIN ANNIVERSARY DAY BONUS UPDATE

Send Money Worldwide

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Welcome to Western Union® Consumers have looked to Western Union® to help them stay connected to loved ones around the world for more than 150 years. We are a global leader in money transfer services, offering the ability to send money to more than 320,000 Western Union Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Count on Western Union to transfer money, send bill payments, and purchase money orders and prepaid services. For urgent Enquiry call +229-98679345 +229-98679345 or E-mail our Customer Care @ western.uniontransfer30@live.fr Thanks for your patronage!

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
WEBSITE; www.westernunion.com
E-MAIL: paymentoffice@westernunion.com
CUSTOMER CARE: western.uniontransfer30@live.fr
TEL: ++229-98679345
FAX: +229-9634-4176

ATTENTION DEAR CUSTOMER:

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU 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 $350 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT OF WHICH WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU FOR SOMETIME NOW.... 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 OF PRICES.

IN ORDER WORDS WE ARE NOW REQUESTING THAT THOSE INVOLVE SHOULD PAY ONLY THE SUM OF $69 TO RECEIVE ALL THEIR PAYMENT ABANDONED IN OUR CUSTODY. THIS IS BECAUSE THE ANNIVERSARY IS AROUND THE CORNER AND WE WANT TO CLEAR OUR TRANSACTION WITH YOU BEFORE THE CELEBRATION TAKE PLACE.NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENT FILES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE IMF WITHIN 72 HOURS IF WE DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU, THIS WAS THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO US BY THE IMF

THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $69 USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE TRANSFERING FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN REPUBLIC TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING BEACUSE IF ANY ONE HAS ACCESS TO THAT IT WILL INVOLVE YOU LOOSING YOUR FUND, NO ONE HAS TO BE TRUST EVEN YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF THE ONE WE SENT TODAY TO YOU BUT IT WILL REMAIN ON HELD UNTIL YOU SEND US OUR TRANSFER CHARGES OF $69 BEFORE WE CAN RELEASESE IT TO YOU SO YOU CAN TRACK IT WITH OUR WEB SITE. http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp

WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
Sender First Name:=======ABDUL ARIF
Sender Last name=====GOUSAPPA
MTCN :=============1348044594
Question:==========What colour
Test Answer:=======Green
Amount:============$5,000,00,

THIS IS MY QUESTION DO YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR FUNDS? IF NOT GET BACK TO US IMMEDIATELY WITH $69 OR ELSE YOU LOST YOUR FUNDS BECAUSE WE CAN NOT KEEP YOUR FUNDS IN OUR CUSTODY DURING OUR ANNIVERSARY DAY IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH IS 3 DAYS TO COME.HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE THE SAID $69 AND YOU CAN EVEN BE IN THASE OFFICE TO RECIEVE YOUR OWN PAYMENT IN NEXT 38 MINUTES OF SUBMITTING THE MTCN OF $69 TO US.

RECEIVER NAME; GABRIEL ORAUNOR
COUNTRY;............ BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY................COTONOU
TEST QUESTION; IN GOD
ANSWER; WE TRUST
AMOUNT; $69

NOTE; WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE IMF TO RETURN THE PAYMENT FILE WITHIN 72 HOURS IF THE BENEFICIARY DID COMPLY TO CLAIM HIS/HER FUNDS.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, BENIN REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE.

DISPATCHED THIS DAY. FOR ENQUIRY, CALL +229-98679345

SINCERELY,

MR. MARK JAMES
+229-98679345

Western Union®
Send Money Worldwide

Welcome to Western Union® Consumers have looked to Western Union® to help them stay connected to loved ones around the world for more than 150 years. We are a global leader in money transfer services, offering the ability to send money to more than 320,000 Western Union Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Count on Western Union to transfer money, send bill payments, and purchase money orders and prepaid services. For urgent Enquiry call +229-98679345 +229-98679345 or E-mail our Customer Care @ western.uniontransfer30@live.frThanks for your patronage!

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam