419 scam: "Western Union Money Transfer" <selena@selena.net.ua> (no subject)

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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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
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.
- mtcncontrolroomghana@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer" <selena@selena.net.ua>
Reply-To: mtcncontrolroomghana@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2011 21:05:53 +0100
Subject:

How are you today?

The below payment has been awarded to you by the Ghana Government/World Bank to
compensate you on the past experience had with the Ghana scammers.

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $10,000.00 through Western
Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation
payment total sum of $250,000.00 via Western Union by the
Government.

I have on a good authority email you the MTCN and sender's details to enable
you pick up the first $10,000.00,USD and confirm receipt to us so as to enable
us wire the next USD10,000.00 by tomorrow and subsequent ones since we can only
send USD10,000.00 a day.

Please pick up this information and get to any western union in your country to
pick up the $10,000.00 and email the Western Union outlets incharge of the
payment so that they could send you another payment tomorrow.

Western Union contact information:
Manager: Paul Ben
Email: mtcncontrolroomghana@gmail.com

Call or Email them once you picked up the $10,000.00 today, if there is any
problem with them paying you make sure to contact this Western outlet with the
information given to you above.

Please you are advice to fill the form bellow to enable easy recognition.

Full Name...............................
Age......................................
Sex......................................
Occupation................................
State....................................
Country...................................
Direct Tellephone Number...................

Below is the western union information for pick up:

MTCN:017-591-607*
Sender's Name: Micheal Wells
Question: Colour
Answer: Pink
Amount: $10,000.00

They will be expecting your call once you pick up $10,000.00.

Best Regards,
Paul Ben
Outlet Manager
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam