419 scam: Western Union Payment alert <impexdm@yahoo.fr> Attn: Valued 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. )
- "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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- info_westernoffi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Payment alert <impexdm@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: infowunoi_w@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:44:28 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Attn: Valued Customer,

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ;ADDRESS,
NO 2 - 36 AWOLOWO RD IKOYI
LAGOS NIGERIA

Attn: Valued Customer,

The Ministry of Finance has assigned and released compensation payment to all recent scam victims and your name was in the scam victim's list, after the release an executive emergency meeting was held with the chairman and board members of Western Union Agency for this payment. At the end of the meeting, the head of international remittance was mandated to set up Western union account in your name where the overall inheritance of US$1,500,000.00 will be pay into the account and as well be releasing to you on installment $5000.00. daily.

Meanwhile, the agreement which was signed between the ministry and the western union has it that all beneficiaries should show commitment on their part as indication that they are ready and willing to receive their entitlement by paying US$105.00 as commitment charges. This is the reason for this notification, therefore, you advised to contact our cashier unit in reference to this order on info_westernoffi@yahoo.com contact person is Mr. Duck Ahmad, he will instruct you on how to send the commitment charges to enable him activate the MTCN to pick up your first installment of US$5000.00. again note. you must send $105.00 to him to enable him activate your MT C N before the release of first $5,000.00 to you.

THANKS & CONGRATULATIONS!

Mr. Brown .H Silva

Western Union Department

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam