419 scam: "Ms Helenna white"<info@westernunion.net> Dear Esteemed Beneficiary.

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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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 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.
- +22967682751 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22968364684 (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.
- westernpaydesk@counsellor.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms Helenna white" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernpaydesk@counsellor.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:11:09 +0100
Subject: Dear Esteemed Beneficiary.

Paying Agent No. 117H
MS.HELENNA WHITE
Western Union Payment Officer
Payment Hotline :+229-676 827-51

Congratulations!
Dear Esteemed Beneficiary

I am writing to officially inform you that you have a sum of $1,700,000.00 USD (ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) lodged in our Western Union headquarter awaiting to be transferred to you, this mandate and payment advise was given to us by United Nation Compensation Committee as a grand compensation to every due unpaid and foreign beneficiaries as shortlisted in our last quarter of the year Payment Schedule.

The UNCC have instructed us to be sending to you a daily installment transfer of $5,000.00 USD - Five Thousand USD Dollars or its equivalent in your local currency every day .

We have transferred your first installment payment this morning for your easy pick-up at any Western Union outlet nearest to you. Your first payment is available for pick up now. All you require is your Electronic Foreign Transfer PIN (EFTP). This is to ensure your payment is safe and not intercepted in anyway and to get the (EFTP), it will cost you the sum of $59.00 only.

You are required to reconfirm Your Name, Address, Phone Number, Age and Identification card so as to enable us to post your funds to you once you make the payment. Do call: Tel Phone :+229-67682751, +229-68364684 or email me on (westernpaydesk@counsellor.com) so you can be directed on how to send the EFTP charge of $59 or you can simply use the below information's.

Receivers Name:........ Igor Agboton.
City: .....................Cotonou.
Country: ...............Benin Republic.
Text Question: ....Honest.
Text Answer: ......Trust.
Amount: ...............$59.00 only.

You will receive further transfer instructions upon your prompt response. I await your urgent response.

Best Regards
MS.HELENNA WHITE
Western Union Payment Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam