419 scam: WESTERN UNION <customacr@gmail.com> ATTENTION, FROM OFFICE WU MTCN 9769705933

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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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westernumtransfer@kimo.com (Kimo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <customacr@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.michel_jone@kimo.com
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:17:05 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: ATTENTION, FROM OFFICE WU MTCN 9769705933

VITAL FINANCE WESTERN UNION
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER.
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD,COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNION
HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT
OFFICE
TELEPHONE : 00(229)
9965.9382
EMAIL:westernumtransfer@kimo.com
WEB http://www.westernunion.com/

DEAR
CUSTOMER,

FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING
HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOAD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE
YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM THE TOTAL FUNDS WHICH IS (1.5M) 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 FEES SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME
UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM.

OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER
COMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ON
WORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE IS FAKE.PLEASE VIEW
OUR WEBSITE NOW :WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.

THEREFORE GO STRIAGHT NOW AND PAY
ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE FEES TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT
IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE
BALANCE SUM OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM
USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE
US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE
SUM.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON
HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTILL YOU SEND THE
DEMAND WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU
ARE.

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

1.SENDER
NAME:... MERRIE COE
2.TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST
ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ..........$5,000 USD
5.MTCN..... 9769705933
(Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT
THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMEBER
THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 48HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL
IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO
HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND WHATEVER
YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT
IMMEDIATELY.

1.RECEIVER NAME:......MRS. IVEKWU
VINCENT
2.COUNTRY:.............. BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
3.CITY
:............... COTONOU ..
4..TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
5.TEST
ANSWER:.......WHITE.
6.AMOUNT ..........ANY

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER
IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE
WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW

REGARDS MY
DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229_9965_9382 DR MICHEL JONE FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF
WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT

DR MICHEL JONE
GENERAL
OPRATION MANAGER.
VITAL FINANCE
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
EMAIL:
westernumtransfer@kimo.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER:+229_9965_9382

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam