419 scam: "Western Union"<webmaster@westernunion.com> Payment Sent (MTCN: 3767200555)

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +2348080500309 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernnion@secretarias.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:23:04 +0100
Subject: Payment Sent (MTCN: 3767200555)

Dear Customer ,

On behalf of the entire staff and management of WESTERN UNION, we appologies for responsponding to you late regarding your $187,000 that has been sent out to you via our service.

This is to officially notify you that we received your mail and to let you know that the Federal Government has signed the release of your fund via our services. I believed this email is not as a surprise to you. You have been sent a notification concerning this transaction and i believe you are aware that you will be receiving the sum of $9,000USD daily untill it amount to $187,000 USD.

Sometimes last week you received a notification email that your first installmental payment of $9,000 was sent out to you.

In other words, We have today transferred your first instalment payment ($9,000) 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 $350.00 that you are supposed to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you. You will pickup the bellow instalment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information's as soon as you submit the $350 endorsement & daily activation file fee. You can track your first instalment payment with the Western Union tracking number 1-800-325-6000 or through the western union global website so as for you to know that the money is available for pick up (but will not be released to you without the file activation fee of $350).

Your Payment Details

Sender First Name: Lloyd
Sender Last Name: Knopp
MTCN: 3767200555 (Available For Pick-Up)
Text Question: Have Faith?
Answer: In God
Amount Programmed: $9,000

The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $350 should be sent to our office here in care to our accounting officer through Western Union Money Transfer nearest to you or Money Gram.

You are to send the endorsement activation charges with the information below.

Receivers Name: Tunde James
Address: 4989 gibson tower. Abuja, Nigeria
Amount: $350
Text Question: Have Faith
Answer: In God.

As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer Mtcn/Refference # to help us proceed with immediate transfer activation of your first instalment payment.

Notice: This preferrence is being given to you to our good name and also to make sure we get your fund paid to you with no complication of things or delay.

I will be waiting for your immediate and purposeful response. Do not hesitate to fill and send the above informations to this office.

Thanking you for your Anticipated Co-operations.

Respectfully Yours.

Western Union Electronic Transfer Department
Mr. Charles Elumeze
Tel: +234-808-050-0309

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam