419 scam: Western Union <wunion.transfer1@superposta.com> your email address has won

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "wunion.transfer.gh@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998670679 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <wunion.transfer1@superposta.com>
Reply-To: wunion.transfer.gh@w.cn
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 11:03:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: your email address has won

Office of Western Union Headquarters
Porto-Novo, Capital of Benin Republic,
Address; 36 Avenue Pape Jean Paul II,
01 B.P. 2020, Porto-Novo
W.U Office Code :( 2020)
Tel+ +229-98670679
Attn; Winner,
This is to officially bring your notices today being 4/8/2011 that we are celebrating 156 years Anniversary and we wish to inform you that your email address have been selected and show in our Headquarters Telex System as lucky award winner customers with prizes of $7500,000.00 USD.
I write to inform you that after the meeting held by the Executive Board and Senate Committee Members of this Western union Head Office this morning, we have already programmed your award payment of $750,000.00 USD to be paid to you through our Western Union Service immediately without any further delay.
In respect of this email message, you are required by the Executive Board and Senate Committee Members of this Western Union Head Office Porto Novo-Benin,to comply with the instructions giving to you to enable our attorney secure your Transfer Permit Certificate and Award Fund Clearance Certificate, from the Desk of (MINISTRY OF JUSTICES DEPARTMENT) PORTO NOVO-Republic Du Benin to satisfy the legality of your daily payment of $4,99.99 dollars daily in our office as it was approved and programmed already to avoid (F.B.I) Intervention OR US Homeland Security Stop Oder in your daily transaction per $499.99 dollars.
Once/again; note that our attorney general have called the (MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT) PORTO NOVO-Benin Republic regarding the two Certificate and they told us that the cost of the Two Certificate is the sum of $375.dollars.

Dear Award winner, we are hereby urging and advice you to try as much as your very possible best and see that you send the $375 dollars immediately you received this email to enable our attorney general go and secure the Two documents from the (MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT), to enable us commence with your first payment of $499.99 dollars today or tomorrow depending how fast you send the money.

Finally be fully informed that the only fee required from you in this transaction to be final completed as it was signed and approved is the total sum of $375 dollars and secondly note that obtaining of this Two Certificate will took our attorney 4hours and sum minutes to obtain it all, so you are advice to expect our email responds along with your payment details of your USD$4,99.99 dollars which will send to you for immediate pick up by your name as it was programmed, at exactly 12;45PM tomorrow once you made the payment and forward to this Head Office payment slip attach today.
PAYMENT INFORMATION ( WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER).
RECEIVERS NAME :IKECHUKWU ONOCHIE.
COUNTRY : BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY : COTONOU
ZIP CODE: 00229
QUESTION :VERY URGENT
ANSWER : TODAY
AMOUNT: $375 USD.
PAYMENT DETAILS TO SEND TO US
Money transfer control number (MTCN)--------
Senders Name---------
Senders address.-------
Thanks for your understanding and urgent anticipated cooperation to all the above regards.

Contact Person :(Mr.James Ampong )
Western Union payment officer,
Phone: +229-98670679.
E-mail: wunion.transfer.gh@w.cn
Personal:jamesampong@gmx.co.uk

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