419 scam: WESTERN UNION <rosedempsey@globomail.com> YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT $3500!!MTCN:699-167-3550 VIEW MY ID ATTACHED

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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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22998371510 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <rosedempsey@globomail.com>
Reply-To: goodservicesss@w.cn
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:27:06 +0530 (IST)
Subject: YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT $3500!!MTCN:699-167-3550 VIEW MY ID ATTACHED

Hello
Welcome to the desk of Western Union Intl Benin INC.
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of US$850,000 after the meeting held today 17th Feb, 2011. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF Benin Republic (Dr. Boni Yayi) has Instructed this Department to send your funds through our western union money transfer, for easy receive of your inheritance funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraudsters that is going on through internet now. So here we have sent the first payment to you as approved by Benin Government and the pick up information is attached. The amount is $3500, Sender First name------ Carl
Sender Last name------ Bowser
MTCN----------------- 6991673550
Amount---------------- $3500 For confirmations of the payment before sending us the activation charge visit our website www.westernunion.com and click tracking it will show you that your payment is ready for you. And you are require to pay for the activate fee which will cost you the sum of $105 us dollars over your total funds $850,000.

So use this informations to send us the activation fee $105 ASAP, Receiver Name---------- Mrs. Dibor Chukwuemeka
Country----------- Benin Republic
City----------------- Cotonou
Question & answer----------------- A,B Once you have sent the fee call me on +229-98-371-510 so that I will give you the question and answer for you to pick your first payment $3500 today an by tomorrow I will send another until you receive your total funds with us total $850,000. My working id is attached to the email, so hurry up in sending us the activation charge to help you pick up this first payment online today and by tomorrow on we will be sending you $3500 every day until you receive your total funds. Yours in service western union benin.Mrs. Joyce Maduome Monitor Team Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam