419 scam: "Westernunion Agent," <office_post@yahoo.cn> Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 0732627772

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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (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.
- +22967072194 (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.
- westernunionagent624@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Westernunion Agent," <office_post@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunionagent624@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:32:43 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 0732627772

Attention: My Dear

Information reaching us
from our corporate headquarters now, states that you only have 48hours to
effect payment for the activation of your MTCN to enable you cash up your first
$5000:00 from your total (fund) 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 activation fee As From $45 Above since you are not able to come up with the
required sum, time is of the essence here. You are to pay what ever you have
for the activation fee like $45 or to up; we will activate your MTCN upon
receipt of this payment. here is the payment for the $5000:00 usd with the name
of our Assistant Accountant officer but you can not pick it up because the
chairman of the western union say that before you pick that money you must pay
any amount you have at hand out of listed Amount bellow, $55, $45, or $50 Any
one you have there Send it Through Western Union, Remember that you can not
pick it up the money due to it is on told and you can also Tracking it right
now with our website

(https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?

country=BJ)
before you going to western union to send the transfer charge of any Amount you
have at hand out of listed Fees, Track Your MTCN Number Through Western union
Web Site In
Bracket/
(https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?
country=BJ)
Money
Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 0732627772

MTCN
#---------------------0732627772
Sender's Name---------Alihou Hounsa

Amount: $50000.00
USD

Be informed that you will have to pay the balance sum of your
activation upon cashing up of your first $5000:00 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 deactivate your MTCN of which you will and can never cash up the
balance sum I want you to send the renewing and transfer fee with the
information bellow.

So use this name and Address of our Accountant
officer to send any Amount you have at hand out of listed amount bellow Through
western Union Or Money Gram,

1.receiver name:....Ika
Paul
2.country:.........Benin Republic.
3.
City:...........Porto Novo
4.test question:....YES?
5. Test
answer:.....YES
6.Sender Name.......
7.Send us Amount You
sent....,
8.MTCN.........

send us the MTCN number immediately you send
the money and immediately we confirm the transfer fee we will send you the
first receipt of your $5000:00 today and
not tomorrow
With best
Regards,
Contact this email address;( westernunionagent624@yahoo.fr)
Mr.Frank
Tony
Phone: +22967072194
from western union
Office Benin
republic for your payment

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam