419 scam: "Western Union Head Office"<tranferdirector@westernunion.com> YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED FROM WESTERN UNION HEAD 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:

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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- 00447045737641

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Head Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tranferdirector@execs.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:42:31 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED FROM WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE.

Attention,

I am contacting you in respect of 1.2 Million united kingdom pounds that was been sent from America, Canada and Uk respectively which is presently floating in our data transfer system here in our branch office. On my resumption in office this new week, I noticed that your name is similar in most of those names that has sent some huge amount of money via western union, that is why I am using this opportunity to use you as one of the sender of this funds that was been sent which could not be collected (May be due to their fraudulent act and they could not provide 100% identity to enable them pick the funds up and they were scared to come back to try to avoid them been arrested since they know they are scam impersonating offices/persons to rip off other people).

However, I have done every thing within my jurisdiction to ensure the retrieval of this this funds by you as the original sender of the fund, which will enable me release the funds to you via western union as the original sender of the funds that was not been picked up.

All we need to do is to process an affidavit and I.M.T.P. (International Monetary Transfer Permit) in your name as the original sender of this funds here and I will automatically update our data system in your details after the Affidavit and I.M.T.P.

You are to begin to receive this funds via western union as soon as we process an affidavit and I.M.T.P. accordingly.

Note: You are to obtain this document from the FEXCO Money Transfer Ltd here because they will always call my office for information on the MTCN numbers before they will issue the documents.

You are to send at most five names to receive these funds via our convenient and reliable services or send your Bank Account through which this money will be transferred to you by FEXCO KAZKOM BANK as soon as we get the document attached to your file.

You are also required to send us a copy of your international passport or any registered Identification of your country for this is to ensure proper identification before I can effect the payment to you that is to be sent to you in installment of 4,000pounds to each name that you will provide. I can also effect payment to you twice daily and this will be to a total of 8,000 pounds to just one name daily. I attached my staff ID.

Dr Eric Scheringer
Transfer Director
Fund Release Department
Western Union Head Office
Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide
Tel/Fax: 0044-704-573-7641

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam