419 scam: "Western Union® Payment Center." <fondodeestudios@apci.gob.pe> United Nation Beneficiary!!!

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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:

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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (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.
- +2348135121900
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.
- funds.wumtpayoutlet@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union® Payment Center." <fondodeestudios@apci.gob.pe>
Reply-To: <funds.wumtpayoutlet@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:17:04 +0200
Subject: United Nation Beneficiary!!!

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER®
WEST AFRICA PAY-OUT CENTER
WESTERN UNION HEADQUATERS
1. Prof. B. B. Shehu.
Medical Hospital Way
Abuja.
Nigeria

Attention: Western Union Beneficiary,

This is to officially notify you that you have been selected as one of the Beneficiaries of 2014 United Nations Compensation Programme. Your e-mail address was randomly chosen by the Topaz Ballot System. You have been awarded the sum of $1,500,000USD by United Nations in its on-going Social Responsibility Cash Aid . This amount is to be paid to you via the Daily Limit Payment of $7,600 USD.

Your Inheritance/Winning payment was paid out to us, by the United Nations, and they have successfully succeeded in depositing your whole funds with us here at Western Union Nigeria They have now ordered us to take full responsibility in the transfer process of your funds and thus commence the immediate remittance of your funds to you. Be strongly informed that because of our Western Union transfer policy, your funds will be paid to you via our Western Union Daily Transfer limit of $7,600USD. This means that you will continuously receive a daily amount of $7,600USD USD from us, and this amount can be collected from any of our numerous Western Union outlets in your current location.

To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to provide us with; Your Full Name, Address, and Phone Number. Upon receipt of the requested details, your first transaction will be activated by you, we shall then proceed to provide you with the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for the first installment, and we will continue to email you others after 24 hours of receiving each payment.

To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to provide us with; Your Full Name, Address, and Phone Number. Upon receipt of the requested details, your first transaction will be activated by you, we shall then proceed to provide you with the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for the first installment, and we will continue to email you others after 24 hours of receiving each payment.

For more information on your payment status;
E-mail Mr. James Lee at {funds.wumtpayoutlet@gmail.com}

OR call our 24 hours Helpline @ +234-813-512-1900 for any inquiries on the above
message.

Regards,
Mrs Marian Abubakar
For: Western Union® Payment Center.

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Este mensaje ha sido analizado por BitDefender.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam