419 scam: "Western Union Payment Department"<westernunion@yahoo.com> WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CENTER......URGENTLY GET BACK TO US

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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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "lome togo" (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 Payment Department" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wuwesternuniondepartment9@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 19:52:25 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CENTER......URGENTLY GET BACK TO US

Dollars Dollars WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER LOME/TOGO 45 ECOBANK AGENCE HEDZRANAWOE 1545, RUE HAHO HDZN Lome Togo Attn , My name is Mr.Thomas White, Western Union Manager- Togo, but I live in Ghana West Africa, I am a citizen of Ghana. I am contacting you in respect of your funds in the western union. A refugee came to the western union some few weeks ago to send you some money which amount to $5.5 million us dollars but he was arrested by financial task force for money laundry. Before he was taking to the police station he told me that he was sending the money to you ,he said that he wanted to use the diplomatic means but he is afraid of the diplomatic means because he has lost one of his consignment through a diplomatic means that is why he decided to send you the money through the western union money transfer. He was the one who gave me you e-mail address to contact you. What i want you to do is to ; Send me a copy of your international passport or a valid id, Send me 3 names and addresses that will be used to effect the transfer to you bit by bit. Do send across your Telephone number Because we can not send you the money at ones, we will only be able to send you $7,500 u.s. dollar bit by bit to each of the names you will be providing everyday until we finish sending you the whole money also i want you to tell me the maximum amount each of the names can receive in your country,because the maximum we can send here is $7,500 to each of the names everyday. I will be collecting 10%,for services rendered after the whole money is been sent to you. you can also contact me on my personal phone number..+233 24 083 9656 Looking forward to your prompt response. Your's in service, Mr.Thomas White Copyright ©2011 Western Union . All rights reserved. This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam