419 scam: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <westernunion_transfercenter@mail.mn> WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER!

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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. )
- "cotonou" (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.
- +22999957514 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <westernunion_transfercenter@mail.mn>
Reply-To: westernuniontransfercenter@mail.mn
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 09:31:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER!

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FROM WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD
WEB SITE.WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM

DIRECTOR

(MR.PAUL RICHARD) OFFICIE
INCHARGE
TELL:
+22999957514

INTERNATIONAL
NETWORK

Send
Money
Worldwide

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.FOREIGN
CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +22999957514

01/09/2010
Attention: Dear Valued Customer,
=====================
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 $250.00. in order to receive your PAYMENT of which we
did not 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 delayed in our custody due to because of price, in order words we
are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $100.00 intead
of the $250 to receive all their PAYMENT abandoned in our
custody.

Besides,this is the opportunity for you to comply and your
funds shall be transfer to your destination address.
But note that after (3
DAYS) you did not make the payment of $100.00 then we will divert your funds to
government treasury,to avoid problem or we will cancel the payment because we
are closing all transfer for the season.

So be advise to send $100.00.
immediately if you are still wiling to claim your payment so that we will
register your payment once we receive the transfer charges because you will
start receiving your payment as from tomorrow morning by 11 am our time
here.

After you make the payment of $100.00 we will give you the full
information to pick up your first payment of $5,000.00 through western union,
Send the $100.00 through Western Union Money Transfer with the information
below:

1. Receiver Name :=======Okechukwu Solomon
2. Country:======= Benin Republic.
3.
City======================Cotonou
4. Question===========how long?
5.
Answer:=========== tomorrow
6. Amount:===========US$100.00

Forward
the payment control number, sender name and address after sending to enable pick
up the money here.

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.
I am looking forward to receive payment of $100.00. immediately you
send it to enable us to give your the full information which you will use to
pick up your payment in any western union but failure to do so you will loose
your payment because your have only today and tomorrow after that no
more.

Yours in service
Director (Mr.Paul Richard) officer in
charge !!!
Western Union Department Head office
republic
of
Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam