419 scam: "Western Union" <union@yahoo.com> Attention Beneficiary

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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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found 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.
- +2348154266594
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.
- westernunion779@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" <union@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: unionwestern949@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 09:22:47 +0800
Subject: Attention Beneficiary

Western Union Administrative Office®
In Conjunction with:
United Nations Organization,
World Bank and the Nigerian Government.

Attention Beneficiary:

This is to officially inform you that the United Nations Organization compensation
payment committee, have mapped out funds running into Millions of United States Dollars
for the settlement of all funds that have been lost to Nigerian Scams via Lottery
Winnings, Contract payments, Fake Bank Transfer scams, Inheritance Funds payments, fake
money orders, fraudulent online shopping, dating scams, charity scams, check transfer
and ATM scams etc. This compensation is been sponsored and done by the Nigerian
Government in collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations Organization and
Western Union Money Transfer.

We have been directed by the United Nations Security Council to make a compensation
payment of $500,000USD (Five hundred Thousand Dollars Only) to you being one of the
listed beneficiaries.

ALL INFORMATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE TRANSFER AGENT BELOW:
AGENT: Anthony Spencer
EMAIL: westernunion779@yahoo.com.hk
TELL: +2348154266594

Kindly get back to us via email and phone (+2348154266594) immediately confirming your
full details.

Receiver's Names:
Receiver's Address:
Receiver's Country:
Receiver's Telephone Number:
Receiver's Occupation:

With the requested data we can commence the facilitation of your funds transfer to you.

KINDLY SEND YOUR REPLY TO: westernunion779@yahoo.com.hk

Best Regards,
Anthony Spencer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam