419 scam: "MRS. LINDA SLOT"<anezin@infovia.com.ar> WU XMAS REWARD

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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:
- "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. )
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. LINDA SLOT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lindaslot_westernunion.operation@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 12:49:07 +0200
Subject: WU XMAS REWARD

Attention: Sir/Madam,

This short notice is coming to you from Western Union Money Transfer because your email address was selected as one of beneficiaries of Global Poverty Eradication as part of IMF and UN program 2013, as a way to say Happy Xmas and a prosperous New Year. You have been entitled the sum of US$150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand)

We shall be sending you the money in batches; today we sent you US$5,000

Sender Name: Western Union
MTCN: 788-164-5629
Amount Sent: US$5,000

For you to finally receive this first payment you need to Send the sum of $100 for complete release of your money ($150,000)
to you before the 5th of January.

Get back to us for immediate direction.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ

Best regards,
MRS.Linda Slot

http://www.westernunion.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam