419 scam: "Mr.COLLINS VICTOR"<info@lee.com> YOUR FUNDS IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR YOU TO CASH VIA 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- uniontransfer.agent67@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.COLLINS VICTOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <uniontransfer.agent67@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:21:39 +0700
Subject: YOUR FUNDS IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR YOU TO CASH VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

Federal Rep oF Nigeria
Email: uniontransfer.agent67@gmail.com

Attention:

Sequel to the meeting held today with United States Government, through Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Government have warn you to stop further communication/dealing with any banks that have no website due to fraud going on worldwide. Any banks that is contacting you without website is scam. Please view our website now: www.westernunion.com

The United States Government instructed us to be paying you via western union to you under installment of Five Thousand Dollars daily till the amount is completely paid to you, we have transferred your first installment payment today for your pick-up at any western union worldwide, but still on-hold due to none Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance in your payment file, which will cost you ($130.00) You are require to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you today.

Track your first payment online now using senders first name and last name as directed below:

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Contact Mr. Collins Victor, for your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN)

Track your first installment of Five Thousand Dollars daily online now,.

You are require to pay for Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance fee to Mr.Henry Morgan and send copy of your international passport which you will use to pick up your daily $5,000.00 in your country and give me the MTCN number immediately you send the #130 dollars.with this payment information.given

1. Receiver Name :=======COLLINS VICTOR
2. City/Country:==========LAGOS NIGERIA.
3. Question=============Who is Great?
4. Answer:=============God
5. Amonut:=============US$130. 00

Forward the payment control number, sender name and address after sending to enable US pick up the money in this Department office here.

Waiting to receive our charges so that we can release your payment on hold for you to receive your first payment immediately.

Our customer care service will call you as soon as possible to enable you pick up your daily $5,000.00 in your country. As soon as we receive the MTCN of Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance of ($130.00) for security and safety purpose, I have sent your daily $5,000.00 today and you can pick up the money at any Western Union worldwide.

Sincerely Regards,

Mr.Joseph Ayala.
Western Union Payment Officer
www.westernunion.com
==============================
===================================================
For further information, please call 1-800-325-6000 Copyright * 2003 Western Union Holdings, Inc. Restrictions and Special Notes Money transfers sent to Nigeria must include a Test Question. Payee must present correct Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) and a valid ID to collect. US Dollars payouts are subject to available.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam