419 scam: "Western Union International Bank"<service@westernunion.org> WESTERN UNION OFFICE, PAYMENT ORDER FOR RELEASED.

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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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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 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.
- westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- may 19, 2012 western union office - westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com from: western union office (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union International Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 06:06:37 -0700
Subject: WESTERN UNION OFFICE, PAYMENT ORDER FOR RELEASED.

Saturday, May 19, 2012
WESTERN UNION OFFICE - westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com
From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com>

Dear Beneficiary,

How are you today? This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email. We wish to bring to your notice that, your name and email appeared in the list of our outstanding inheritance payment beneficiaries for this year 2012 and this is why you have been contacted you. Your payment has been scheduled to be made through our Western Union Money Transfer $10,000 dollars daily until your whole funds worth USD$3.5M (Three hundered and five million United States Dollars) are completely transferred as indicated in your payment file. So without mincing words, we shall expect you to kindly furnish us with the following information as we must make sure your details corresponds with what we have in our payment file before releasing your payment to avoid wrong payment.

Kindly forward the following details to us immediately:

Your fulll names:

Your address:

Your country:

Your occupation:

Your phone number:

Your ID:

Note that, upon the receipt of above details from you, we shall immediately do the needful here in our office and post across your first $10000 dollars immediately without further delays.
Meanwhile, you should bear in mind that, we shall be transferring your fund $10,000 dollars everyday until your whole funds are completely transferred.
Please, do endeavor to Email us at westernunion_paymentorder2012@yahoo.com for further clarification.

We expect your prompt response soonest.

Yours in service
Rev. Richard Thompson
mrrichard_thompson2012@hotmail.com.

Western Union Payments
www.westernunion.com
Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
Western Union International Bank

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Consumers have looked to Western Union to help them stay connected to loved ones around the world for more than 150 years.
We are a global leader in money transfer services, offering the ability to send money to more than 245,000 Western Union Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories.
Count on Western Union to transfer money, send bill payments, and purchase money orders and prepaid services.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam