419 scam: "WESTERN UNION" <westnunioncotonou@yahoo.com> YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN SEND TO YOU

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" <westnunioncotonou@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernunioncotonou@superposta.com
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:03:07 -0400
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN SEND TO YOU

Attention My Dear Friend

How are you today? I write to inform you that we have already sent you
USD$5000 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate
to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD $850,000.00 via
Western Union by this Governemnt and i was calling your telephone number to
give you the information through phone but I couldn't get it true throughout
yesterday evenining till this morning then I decided to email you the MTCN
and sender name so that you will pick up this USD $5,000. 00 to enable us send
another USD $5,000.00 today as you know that we shall be sending you only
$5,000.00 per day.

PLEASE BEAR IT IN MIND THAT BEFORE YOU WILL PICK UP THE 5,000.00 THAT WAS SENT
IN YOUR ADDRESS YESTERDAY THAT YOU WILL PAY THE RE-NEWING FEE OF YOUR PAYMENT
FILE WHICH IS $45 USD ONLY TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION;

RECEIVER NAME; DURU UCHECHUKWN
COUNRTY; BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY; COTONOU
QUESTION; HOW LONG
ANSWER; NOW
AMOUNT; $45

So please Email (cotonouwesternunion@cash4u.com)
once you receive this message. Here is the Western Union information to pick
up the USD $5,000.00,

MTCN 9491939246
SENDER Anthony Udezuo
AMOUNT / $5000
QUESTION/ IN GOD?
ANSWER/ WE TRUST
Amount $5000 Only
Country: Benin-Republic.

VISIST OUT WEBSITE WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you
once we send you anothe payment.
Regards
Mr Jackson Dues

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam