419 scam: " 2013 Western Union Lottery Promo" <msn@cumtb.edu.cn> CONGRATULATION FROM WESTERN UNION!!!!!!!

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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:

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. )
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- +447937017656

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:52:25 +0800
Subject: CONGRATULATION FROM WESTERN UNION!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATION FROM WESTERN UNION!!!!!!!
For 150 years, Western Union has been connecting people. At Western Union,there'
s so much more than money you're sending. Every sender and receiver isimportant
to us.To celebrate our 150th Anniversary United Kingdom, we're rewarding
ourcustomers with prizes from Western Union Online Sweepstakes Promotion held
onMarch 10 th 2013 to appreciate our customers for a success through out
thisyear.
We the Western Union Regional board is pleased to inform you that your
EmailAddress was selected randomly through our Computer Ballot System from
WorldEmail Directories.This promotion is part of the financial empowerment
program of the WesternUnion Company London UK its desire to Reward our Numerous
Customers Worldwide.
If you receive this email, Please be informed it is not an error and
yourverification number is: (WU-WA/908308/2013).
Because you sent money on-line, from an agent location or received moneythrough
Western Union, you've have been approved the sum of �150,000.GBP (
ONEHUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS) as our 3RD PRIZE WINNER in
thisyear promo which is presently going on to appreciate our customers all
overthe globe.
Note however that, you are not to send money to anyone to receive your fundsas
the authority is against that, and don't let people, impersonator fool youor
scam you, otherwise you will regret it after wasting money and effort.
However for the purpose of proper verification among other relevantinformation,
it is imperative that you forward your claims to our claimdepartment with the
below details.
1. Your full names2. Full address3. Any proof of identification4. Phone and Fax
number
NOTE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, YOU MUST KEEP YOUR WINNING DETAILS PRIVATELY.
Accept our warmest gratitude!!!!
MR.JIM BOUTONFOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER OF WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE.UNITED
KINGDOM, LONDON-UKE-mail: westernu.niondept11@admin.in.thTEL: +44 793 701 7656
�2001-2013 Western Union
Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam