419 scam: "DR Peter William" <infor@yahoo.com> Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide

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:

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:
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- wwwwesteroffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR Peter William" <infor@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: wwwwesteroffice@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 20:44:39 -0200
Subject: Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Address 451 Borlaji Road Cototnu.
Contact Person: Peter William
DATE 09/06/2014.
Western Union office Special New Bonus

ATTENTION DEAR CUSTOMER:

This is to notify you about the latest development concerning all the payment that are
left in our custody, which yours are inclusive, Besides your where given a bill of in
order to receive your payment of which we didn’t hear from you for sometime
now....Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our
customers that
Is having their payment in our custody due to of prices. In order words we are now
requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $95 to receive all their
payment abandoned in our custody.

Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you and has to comply and your funds shall
be transfer to your designated address. But remember that after (3 DAYS) you did not
make the payment then we will divert your funds to Government Fund, to avoid problem or
we will cancel the payment for this year until next year because this year is not like
last year.

Again after (THREE DAYS) we will enter a new project for the year and that is the reason
why we decided to help to all our customers before we enter into the new project. So be
advise to send the $95 immediately so that we will register your payment and for you to
start receive $5,000 as from tomorrow.

Be advise that there is no time again for we to call any person on phone unless you will
us on E-mail (wwwwesteroffice@gmail.com) After the payment of $95 you will start
receiving your money every day $5,000 through Western Union Send the needed fee through
Western Union Money Transfer with the information below,

Receiver's Name==John Ejike
Country== Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Text Question== Trust
Answer== Honest
Amount Only= $95
Senders Name:::
MTCN:::::::::

The moment I receive the payment of $95 I will release the first payment information of
$5,000 to you and you will pick up the money until you receive the total amount of $2.5
USD is transfer to you. Hoping to hear from you.

THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELLY
DR Peter William
FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam