419 scam: "anderson baker"<info@bigpicture.org> ATTENTION:WESTERN UNION TRANSFER CUSTOMER!!

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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. )
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.
- western_anderbak@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "anderson baker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_anderbak@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2012 04:15:00 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION:WESTERN UNION TRANSFER CUSTOMER!!

Dear Sir / Madam,

For 156 years, Western Union has been connecting people. At Western Union, there's so much more than money you're sending, every sender and receiver is important to us. To celebrate our 156th anniversary in England. Were rewarding our customers with give away prices of 150,000.00 GBP (Great British Pounds).

Because you sent money on-line, from an agent location in the USA, CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, or received money through Western Union, or you banked with any of our banking agents you've been selected.

However, you are required to forward the following underlisted information for immediate payment of your US$150, 000.00

1.) Beneficiary:………………

2.) Address:………………….

3.) Sex/Age:…………………

4.) Telephone/Fax: …………

5.) Occupation:………………

6.) Nationality:……..

You will be contacted by a Western Union agent in the next 24 hours as soon as you forward your required information.

Save time, send money, earn rewards! Western Union is a service people trust.

ANNIVERSARY DAY

Sincerely,

Anderson Baker.

western_anderbak@hotmail.com

Thank you for using Western Union!

-----------------------------------------------------

We endeavor to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your Information. We also endeavor to restrict Information access to our employees, agents and representatives that need to know it. Western Union will never disclose your personal or billing information to a third party.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam