419 scam: Western Union <western_union_m-t@w.cn> Payment Cancellation Notice

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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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <western_union_m-t@w.cn>
Reply-To: bureau-western-unionmoneytransfer@live.com
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:00:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Payment Cancellation Notice

Office of the Operation Manager
Western Union Payment Center.
Head Office, Herbert Macaulay Way,
Wusih Zone 6, Porto-Novo FCT.
Â
24 hours banking service. Please reflect on the time difference in Africa if contacting us from overseas.
Â
Dear Customer,
Â
Compliment of the season to you!!!
Â
The Western Union Management, desires to inform you that your funds transfer with us has been programmed among the five (5) transaction that would face annulment on the 6th April, 2011 after DR. BONI THOMAS YAYI`s Presidential open talk on Monday 4th April, 2011 for his second term in the office as president of the Republic of Benin.
Â
This is to report to you that our bank have received a correspondence from the Federal High Court as cancellation notice for your funds transfer to be deleted from foreign payment file .Â We have waited long time enough for you to fulfill the required obligations and claim the funds like other beneficiaries that have claimed their funds before February ending but nothing comes up from you as the funds owner. The Management of this bank held an urgent meeting in my office today 28 March, 2011, regards to the transferring of your funds by Western Union and they have asked my office to submit all the paper works and files containing your funds confidentiality but I refused and asked the board members to give me from now till Wednesday so that I consult you personally to know your mind concerning the funds.
Â
Further more, you are advised to reply to this email after reading, and feel free to tell us why you abandoned such huge amount here. Let us know if you are no longer interested on this transaction.

Finally, if you still have the interest of being paid your funds by Western Union Money Transfer; you should kindly forward your receiverâ€™s permit immediately. Also, you are to pay the sum of $85 dollars for the retrieving of your payment documents from the Federal High Court and I will thereby write an appeal letter to Court of Appeal Benin Republic against the cancellation notice in ordinance of Federal High Court. After this process, you shall start to receive your transfer on daily basis as agreed on the initial stage.

Here is where you can send the $85 by Western Union for our immediate action.
CASHIER; Ameke Michael
Address; lot c, 281 Abomey way
City;Â Â Â Cotonou
Country; Benin
Amount; $85 dollars

Send the MTCN after the transfer has been initiated from Western Union bank or outlet.
Â
I am looking forward to your positive cooperation fairly soon.
Â
Best Regards.
Â
Mr. Dina` Nwunyeya
Operation Manager
Western Union

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam