419 scam: "Unicredit Bank"<customer@Unicreditonline.net> Attn : 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:

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. )
- "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. )
- "customer@unicreditonline.tk" (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: "Unicredit Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customer@Unicreditonline.tk>
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:48:43 +0100
Subject: Attn : Your Payment

FROM OFFICE OF UNICREDIT BANK
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER DIVISION
ADDRESS: VIA FAENTINA 18
48100 RAVENNA (RA)
ITALY .

Email: To info@unicreditonline.tk

Attention: Beneficiary.

Following the high rate of fraud star, scam and money laundry activities case perpetrated via South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo , Europe and other African countries. We write to informed you about the meeting held today by the EU Union money laundry commission , organized crime/fraud division.

You are warned to stop further communication or dealing you have with any body/banks regarding to the collection of your fund, due to the fraudulent activities going on worldwide for your own good, because your fund is right here in our custodians and not in Any body/banks that is contacting you in respect to the collection of your fund is scam.

Secondly, we have discovered that some of these deposited funds including yours & other (5.000) innocent scam victims, who face untold extortion of valuables cash, on their struggles to claim their entitled funds are genuine and originated from the right sources such as contracts payment, inheritance claim and above it all lottery winning claims

European union money laundry commission committee has instructed us to be paying your fund to you via western union money transfer under installment of Seven Thousand Five hundred Dollars daily till the amount is completely paid to you, we have transferred first installment payment to you today for your pick-up at any western union worldwide over there in your country.

I advice you Track your first payment online for your perusal, now using senders first name and last name as directed below:

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 8453767657
Senders First Name: ION
Senders Last Name: GURGU

But, this is still on-hold, due to your none payment of the (Euro 229: 00 Cent only) Handling fee & stamp duties charges as indicate in your payment file, that You are require to pay before you pick up your daily transfer that we have made available to you today.

You are require to send copy of your international passport, contact Phone Number and your full contact Address, which you will use to pick up your daily $7,500.00 in your country for our record,

As instructed immediately we receive the Handling fee & stamp duties charges, we will release your payment on hold and our customer care service in your country will call you as soon as possible to enable you pick up your daily $7,500.00 immediately without any urge.

Sincerely Regards.
Mr. David Bar
Western Union Payment Officer
customer@unicreditonline.tk
Unicredit Bank italy.

Copyright © 2011. Unicredit Bank Plc, italy. All Rights Reserved.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam