419 scam: "MRS. SANDRA JONES" <fileofficee@yahoo.cn> FROM WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT.

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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. )
- "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.
- +22999038191 (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.
- w.u.m.t.o@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. SANDRA JONES" <fileofficee@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: w.u.m.t.o@superposta.com
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:12:38 +0800 (CST)
Subject: FROM WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT.

Â Â Â Â

Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.Â
Â Attention Dear Recipient,

This
is to notify you about the latest development concerning all the
payment that are left in our custody on-hold, which yours are inclusive
Besides, where you give a numerous bills in order to receive your
payment by our former Western Union Cashier Manager of which we didnâ€™t
hear from you for some time now.

Hence, our Western Union is now
offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers that are having their
funds in our custody due to large transfer charges imposed by our
formal Cashier Manager which made you not to receive your total fund of
US$2.5Million. As it has been signed and stamped.

You advised to contact our bonus payment office via this email below and send the sum of
$75.00 to them for the renewing of your payment file to enable they start transferring your fund.

CONTACT PERSON: MRS. LINDA UBAKA.
E-MAIL: ( w.u.m.t.o@superposta.com )
Office::::+229-9903-8191
Address.. 455 agbokou,ankpa road opposite tunde motors cotonou. Â

Also you advise to reconfirm your receiver information to the above email to avoid wrong transfer.

Your full name.......
Your country....... City......
Phone number.............
age........sex.........

In
order words we are now requesting that that involve should pay only the
sum of $75.00 to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody.

Receiver name.......Ignatius Anakwe
Country .......Benin republic
City .......Cotonou
Question .......AA
Answer .......BB
Amount ....... $75.00 Only
M.T.C.N .......
Sender's name.......

Besides,
my dear, this is the opportunity for you to comply with us so that your
fund
shall be transferred to your submitted address installment $5,000.00
per day. But bear it in mind that after (3 DAYS) of not making this
payment your fund shall be canceled in accordance with our constitution
1993/1994, for this year until next year because this year is not like
last year.

We guarantee you that as soon as you send this $75.00
we must start transferring your fund to you through this Western Union
Department without any further delay and this is the only fee you have
to pay in this transaction as it was written down already by the Federal
government of this country.

Looking forward for your anticipated response.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sandra Jones
Administrative Department,
Western Union Payments.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam