419 scam: "Western Union Money Transfer"<infowunoi

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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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- qwesternu@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wuniondepartment903@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:32:53 -0300
Subject: WesternXUnion

Attn: Valued Customer, Due to your inability to send the required western union handling charges, an executive emergency meeting was held yesterday in a way to resolve this problem to ensure your payment as year runs to an end. At the end of the meeting, the head of international remittance was mandated to release the first installment of $5000.00 and subsequently till all outstanding amount is paid ($1.5million United States Dollars). In view of this development, an agreement was signed that all beneficiaries should from henceforth pay activation fee on their part as indication that they are ready and willing to receive their payment by sending $48.00 USD as activation charges. Therefore, you advised to send the required $48.00 with following receiver's detail below. RECEIVER NAME : OBALIMU JOSEPH Address:#455 ROAD IKOYI LAGOS, (COUNTRY CODE +234) Country: LAGOS NIGERIA, Text question: What? (Text Answer: commitment) Amount sent:___$48.00 (MTCN:__________) Sender's Name______________ Thanks as we are looking forward to receive the details with $48.00 today to enable us activate and release your first $5000.00 USD with MTCN to you to pick up.meanwhile the payment details should be send to our head affice with this email qwesternu@rediffmail.com CONGRATULATIONS! Mr. Matthew Perdro. Western Union Office Send Money Worldwide WesternUnion®payment alert

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam