419 scam: "MR. PETER MOORE" <flonia@encotedivoire.com> CONTACT WESTERN UNION AND PICK UP YOUR PAYMENT

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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
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.
- +22998830940 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- wwwwesternunion40@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. PETER MOORE" <flonia@encotedivoire.com>
Reply-To: wwwwesternunion40@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:09:55 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION AND PICK UP YOUR PAYMENT

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY,

Yes. It is truth that you have payment of $5000.00 USA Dollars Every
Blessing Day here in this Department Western Union untill your funds
which is $3.5millions us dollars completed, But we wish to inform you our
instructions first before we should release MTCN payment
informations to you, We have nstruction and as soon as you follow our
procedure here then your payment will be release to you immediately.

Note: that all the necessary arrangement concern your MTCN NUMBER is ready
now but we can not release the payment on hold untill you send our office
keeping fee which is $100.00 before we will give you the full informations
to pick up the $5000.00 today through western union in any country.

Again. we are working according to our rules and regulations that guiding
our Department now to aviod problem be advise to send our office keeping
fee which is $100.00 before we should release your Mtcn payment
informations to you. please comple with us to aviod any delay.

Therefore check yourseif well to know if you can come up with the amount
needed today then let us know immediately by forward the payment
informations after sending the $100.00 today. you will start receiveing
your payment as from tomorrow morning before 9 AM our time tomorrow.

So go ahead and send the payment via western union with our cashier
informations below.the transfer charge can not be more than $5000.00 USA
dollars ok.

Reciever Name: Uzor Okoye
Location: :Cotonou,
Country: :Benin Republic
Text Q: :Code?
Answer::::::$X666
Mtcn::::
Amount:::::.$100.00
Then the sender's name ok.

EMAIL, wwwwesternunion40@gmail.com
Phone number +229 98830940
Send the money via western union money transfer and forward the payment
informations to us for easier pick up.

The Agent will start sending your payment as soon as we got everything
done today but any delay will make us to pick up the money back from
western union to aviod another person to pick up your payment okay so
hurry up.

Below: MTCN tracking.I advise to track your payment first so that you will
know. Call me once you send the $100.00 today Number

LISTEN BELLOW IS THE INFORMATION BUT LIKE I TOLD YOU THAT YOU WILL NO
LONGE PICK UP UNTIL YOU HAVE SEND THE KEEPING FEE OF $100,00 NOW TRACK IT
ON www.westernunion.com ,

MTCN #--------------------------- 6336706150
Sender's First name------------ Carlos
Sender's Last name-------------- Lopez
City-------------------------- ------Cotonou
Country----------------------- ----Benin Republic
Text question-------------------- trust
Text answer--------------------- Today
Amount------------------------ --$5000.00

I am looking forward to receive of $100.00 immediately to enable us to
give your the full informations which you will use pick up your payment in
any western union but fail to do so should be transfer into government
account and you should loose your payment because you have only today and
tomorrow after that nomore.

I wish you good luck.
Mr Peter Moore, officer incharge
Western Union Department Head office
republic of Benin
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam