419 scam: Western Union Money Transfer <johnkennedoffice@googlemail.com> WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
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.
- +2347042530467 (Nigeria, 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.
- westernoutlet@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Money Transfer <johnkennedoffice@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: westernoutlet@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 08:23:10 -0800
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

TRANSFER.
455 AIRPORT ROAD,ABUJA, NIGERIA.
HELP LINE: +234 704 2530467

I'm Mr. Kenneth Luke, from the Western Union Money Transfer head office
here in Nigeria, And we have been informed and instructed by the United
Nation to pay you the full sum of $450,000.00 US Dollars as part of payment
compensation for those that have been "SCAMMED"

But due to the unsecured nature of things, we have made an arrangement to
release the payment to you in a break down figure of $5,000.00 (Five
Thousand US Dollars) daily.

Endeavor to indicate this CODE (06654) which will prove that you are the
beneficiary of this compensation. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to
pay extra fee except $264 USD being your activation fee. This is because
the MTCN have exceeded the maximum limit of 2weeks on air.

Below is your first release payment information of $5000 Dollars which you
can pick up today.

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):1310488052
SENDER NAME:IWUNOR UCHENNA
SENDER LAST NAME: PETER
Text Question:.....WHEN
Answer:.......NOW

You can simply track the status of your payment below this link:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Note: You cannot pick it not until you send our activation fee of $264 and
ensure you call this provided number +234 70 42530467 for confirmation
immediate you receive this notification.

Regards,
Mr. Kenneth Luke.
E-mail: westernoutlet@yahoo.co.uk<http://uk.mc1724.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=westernoutlet@yahoo.co.uk>
HELP LINE: +234 704 2530467

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam