419 scam: WESTERN UNION <barristerjames@yahoo.cn> ATTN DEAR 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:

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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348133765594

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <barristerjames@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: western_union90@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:32:05 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATTN DEAR CUSTOMER,



ATTN DEAR CUSTOMER,

FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELD
WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOARD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO
RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $7,500 USD FROM THE TOTAL

FUNDS WHICH IS (4.8M) 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 of 100usd.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.THERE FORE GO STRAIGHT 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 7,500:00 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 UNTIL YOU SEND THE
DEMAND WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS
YOU ARE.

https://www.westernunion.co.uk/WUCOMWEB/transferStatusAction.do?method=load

SENDER FIRST NAME::::::::::::::::::: John

SENDER LAST NAME:::::::::::::::::::: Nepherson

MTCN::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 2308507685

TEXT QUESTION::::::::::::::::::::::HONEST?

TEXT ANSWER:::::::::::::::::::7,500.00 USD

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT
SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 24HOURS
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:...... Ifeanyi Amalu

2.COUNTRY:............. Nigeria

3.CITY :............... Lagos .

4..TEST QUESTION:.....WHEN

5.TEST ANSWER:......TODAY

6.AMOUNT ...........100$

7. MTCN: (FILL IN)

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY
WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR   FIRST PAYMENT $7,500
TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +234-8133-765-594
MR DOMINIC BEN FROM THE   HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION NIGERIA REPUBLIC
FOR YOUR PAYMENT.

BARRISTER JAMES BARRON

GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.

VITAL FINANCE

WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam