419 scam: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER" <info@westernunion.com> RE

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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. )
- "paul-benn2011@live.com" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER" <info@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: info_wumt01@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:38:43 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: RE

How are you today?
The below payment has been awarded to you by the
Nigeria Government/World Bank to compensate you on the past
experience had with the Nigeria 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: Mr. Paul Ben
Email: paul-benn2011@live.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 Union outlet with the information given to you Below.
Below is the western union information for pick up:
MTCN: 017-591-6070
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,
Terry Scott
Outlet Manager
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam