419 scam: "westernunion.com" <riekot113@yahoo.co.jp> Dear Esteemed Customer

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "westernunion.com" <riekot113@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "westernunion.com" <wuniontelexsdepts@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 07:22:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Esteemed Customer

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Send Money Worldwide

Dear Customer

You are welcome to Western Union Money Transfer head office Benin Republic. I'm Mr. Serge Zabu by name, the new Diamond Bank Western Union Foreign Operation and Debts. Settlement manager here in Benin Republic, I resumed work here last week Friday 4th April 2014,and your overdue payment file was submitted to my desk as pending payment in our Bank.

When I called the formal colleague incharge the payment to find out the reason and he said that you were unable to fulfil your financial obligation required for activation of domiciliary account opened in your name for the transfer of your funds.

However, I don't know your financial capability at this moment and that is the main reason why am contacting to see if we can work together and make it easy for you to receive your funds because I know that you will definitely compensate me when you receive your $2.5Million.

Most wise people prefer using method of western union money transfer now as the best and reliable means of transfering funds because of the scammers who uses courier companies and bank wire transfer to scam innocent people like you their hard earned money.

Kindly take control of yourself and leave everything to GOD Almighty because I know that from now on, you will be the one to say that our lord is good, so I will advice you to send me your direct phone number because I will text you the MTCN through SMS and attach other information and send to your email box, Sender name Senderâ€™s address with Question and Answer including all documents involve in the transaction.

At this point, I will be very glad for your quick response by sending the activation fee of $125 so that I will quickly do the needful and finalize everything within 1:43pm our local time here.

I am giving you every assurance that as soon as the activation fee of $125 is received, I will activate your domiciliary account and proceed with your first transfer of $5,000.00 before 1:43pm our local time because I will close once its 6:30pm.

Be aware that all verifications and arrangement involve in this transfer has being made in your favour. So I need your maximum co-operation to ensure that strictest confidence is maintained to avoid any further delay.

Send the $125 through Western Union Money Transfer to below following information and get back to me with MTCN scan copy of the Western Union slip OK?

Receiver's Name:Jude Ikem
City, Country:Cotonou, Benin Republic
Text Question:In God
Answer:We Trust
Amount $125
Mtcn:

I felt pains after going through your payment file and and ready to do my utmost to make sure you receive it all OK?

Be rest assured that I will activate your daily installment account and post your first $5,000 USD for you to pick-up today as soon as we receive the activation fee from you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again should you require additional information for urgent attention. Thank You For Banking With Us.

Mr. Serge Zabu
Managing Director
Western Union Foreign Operation

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam