419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <officefile342@ymail.com> CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY I AM URGENTLY WAITING

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "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)
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- +22998774539 (Benin, probably a 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.
- westernunionmoneytransfer227@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <officefile342@ymail.com>
Reply-To: westernunionmoneytransfer227@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:58:55 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY I AM URGENTLY WAITING

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Mr. Den Robert, Financial Bank Benin WESTERN UNION OFFICE DEPARTMENT
ADDRESS: P.O;168 INDUSTRAL ROAD COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
PLOT C/245 ZONE 6 AGBOJEDO CALIFO
TELEPHONE; +229-98774539
EMAIL: ( westernunionmoneytransfer227@rocketmail.com )

ATTENTION:

What is going on, who is Jonathan T. Jefferson?

I was trying to get you on phone regarding your US$800,000.00 but the line was
not through.

However, this Jonathan visited my office on Saturday, 13. 2013 with a Beninios
lawyer and application of claim over your US$800,000.00with this financial
institution.

Please, do confirm to me, as matter of urgency if this man is really
from you so
that this office will not be held responsible for paying wrong person.

Based on board of directors meeting today, they have concluded to approve the
payment in his favor since you failed to fulfill the obligation given
to you by
the western union to process your payment.

Therefore, if you are really serious and willing to receive the first payment
through western union, kindly get back to me and I will work with you to
complete the western union payment processing fees so that you will start
receiving your daily transfer.

Since Western Union Payment processing fee is $100, so I am expecting
$100 from
you today.

As an insider in this Financial Institution, I must assure you that once you
send is demand fee we would now be under legal obligation to transfer
the funds
to you within 6hours we confirm this $100. YES you must receive the
first $5,000
within 6hours after you send this $100.

Kindly make the payment to:
Receivers name:....Alex iLochi
Country:....... Benin Republic
City:...... Cotonou
Text Question:......when
Answer:...... today
Amount:...... $100
MTCN:.........

I will like you to co-operate with me to retrieve this legacy payment left
behind than allowing the government of this country to forfeit it. I
believed it
is a life time opportunity which every reasonable human-being will never allow
to slip by. We do business each day with an absolute commitment to ethics,
honesty and credibility.

MR. DEN ROBERT
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 303).

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

YOURS FAITHFULLY Mr Den Robert
HONORABLE DIRECTOR
WESTERN UNION AGENT
OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam