419 scam: "Westernunion" <Westernunion@transfer.org> WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT 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. )
- "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. )
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
- +2347026899024 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Westernunion" <Westernunion@transfer.org>
Reply-To: noticeboard46@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 14:46:26 -0500
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER® INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE

(CALL TO CONFIRM YOUR 1ST PAYMENT OF $4,500)

FROM THE WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Website: www.westernunion.com

WESTERN UNION INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT ONLY

REF: CBN/IRD/-NY-CBX/021/11
RE: RSVX /07342/01/12

Attention; (Your Payment Notification),

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract
inheritance file presently on my desk, and we found out that you have not
received your payment due to lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the
obligations giving to you in respect to your contract inheritance payment
through your paying bank.

After the Law Enforcement judgment between the UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
Agent Mr. Walter Smith and Compensation finance head office, an immediately
conclusion was reached that (Western Union Money Transfer) department of
central bank of Nigeria should pay your unpaid fund through western union
electronic system for easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that
could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.

The Management of the UNITED NATION ORGANISATION HEAD BRANCH here in Abuja
Nigeria have submitted your name, to our ACCREDITED FIDUCIARY AGENT office
for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed
to be transferred under instalment payment of $4,500 United States America
Dollars daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds
above $10,000 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under
instalment of $4,500 daily till the amount is completely paid.

In other words, we have today transferred your first instalment payment
available for your Pick-Up at any western union office nearest to you,

BUT STILL ON HOLD DUE TO THE UNPAID ENDORSEMENT & DAILY ACTIVATION FILE FEE
AMOUNT OF ($220) YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO PAY BEFORE YOUR DAILY TRANSFER WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU
DAILY, AND THIS PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE TODAY WITH THIS INFORMATION, RECEIVERS’
NAME: JULIET OKOH, DESTINATION: ABUJA NIGERIA, TEXT QUESTION: WE OFFER,
ANSWER: THE BEST AND THE MTCN NUMBER SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO US.

You will pickup the below install-mental payment at any western union office
nearest to you with the below information's as soon as you send the ($220)
endorsement & daily activation file fees today. You are to track your first
install mental payment online at (www.westernunion.com) OR Call Western Union
tracking number (1-800-325-6000) for available fund for your verification purpose

BELOW IS THE WESTERN UNION DETAILS FOR YOU RECORD, YOU CAN TRACKED IT ONLINE NOW.

*******************************************************************
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): # 3670679241

Sender’s first name: Collins
Senders last name: Sam
Amount: $4,500 dollars
Text: We offer
Answer: The Best
MTCN: 3670679241
*********************************************************************
As soon as the payment is made the western union department in conjunction
with Federal Ministry of Finance will contact you with the Western Union
Payment information to enable you cash your money daily, the MTCN number will
be sending along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your
fund through any Western Union Location in your Country due to IMF Control,
IRS and Home Land Security monitoring agency that is delaying wire transfer of
funds.

Thanks for your co-operation and Waiting to hear from you soonest.
We look forward to serving you better.

Best regards,

DR SAM COLLINS
ACCREDITED WESTERN UNION FIDUCIARY AGENT
AFRICA REGIONAL CENTRE
+234-7026899024

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam