419 scam: "Western Union-Foreign Operations Dept" <info@westernunion.com> YOUR FUND IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2347031862266 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union-Foreign Operations Dept" <info@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: westan101@w.cn
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2012 06:42:21 +0700
Subject: YOUR FUND IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP

Western Union-Foreign Operations Dept;
1 Churchill Place, Abuja,
E14 5HP, Abuja Nigeria,.
Tel:+234 7031862266
Fax:+234 7033335267
===========================================

ATTENTION:

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, STATED THAT YOU
ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR (MTCN) TO
ENABLE YOU CASH YOUR FIRST $8.5M FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE
FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO
GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE
NOT ABLE TO COME THE REQUIRED FUN,TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO
PAY WHAT EVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE

NOTE THAT IT WAS AGREED IN THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD, THAT YOU SHALL BE
RECEIVING THE SUM OF $8000:00 EVERY DAY ON INSTALMENTAL BASIS FROM THE
WESTERN UNION UNTIL THE THE TOTAL FUND OF $8.5M IS EXHAUSTED, AND THE
BELOW IS AN ALREADY SENT FIRST INSTALMENT WITH THE BELOW PAYMENT
INFORMATION.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderResults.asp?country=global

(M.T.C.N): 153 643 2755
Senders First Name: JAMES
Senders Last Name: EYORA
QUESTION..A
ANSWER..B

NOTE IS AVAILABLE BUT YOU CAN NOT PICK IT FOR SECURITY REASONS PENDING
WHEN YOU PAY THE ACTIVATION FEE NOT LESS THAN $85 BEFORE CASHING UP YOUR
FIRST 8000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE
TO PAY THE BALANCE, WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR
(MTCN) OF WHICH YOU CAN NEVER CASH.

BELOW IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE.

1.RECEIVER NAME:.............FRANK DONALD

2.COUNTRY:............. NIGERIA
3.CITY :............... DELTA
4..TEST QUESTION:....GOOD
5.TEST ANSWER:.......FOR YOU

SEND US THE (MTCN) NUMBER AND THE SCAN COPY OF THE PAYMENT SLEEP
IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE ACTIVATION
FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECIEPT OF YOUR $8000 TODAY.

Thank,

Signed,

Yours Faithfully,
Dr.JOHN PETER.
Remittance Director.
Tel:+234 7031862266
WESTERN UNION NIGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam