419 scam: "Western Union" <westernunion@western.com> Re: Your Cashier Check

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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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- team@internationalmoneytransfer.co.uk.pn (Internationalmoneytransfer; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" <westernunion@western.com>
Reply-To: team@internationalmoneytransfer.co.uk.pn
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:34:39 +0200
Subject: Re: Your Cashier Check

Hi,
It has come to the attention of (Western Union Money Transfer - Corporate
Headquarters) that you have been going through hard ways in order to see
to the release of your fund payment, which has been the handwork of some
miscreant elements from this country; we certainly do apologize for any
inconvenience that this may have caused. It is my pleasure to inform you
that your payment issue is settled and a cashier check has been issued in
your name. All you need to receive your entire funds in a cashier check is
(claimant affidavit) which is a laid down procedure in the financial
institution for a situation like this and it is a basic requirement for
you to successfully claim the funds. The Authentication of documents takes
approximately 2-4 hours to process from the time payment is received. In
order to help us serve you better and expeditiously, you are requested to
send the Court filing fee of ($125) through western union to enable us
file your (claimant affidavit) with our High Court Probate Division for
the release of this sum of ($2,800,000) to you as the sole beneficiary.
Once we confirmed your payment, your cashier check will be registered with
DHL express for onward delivery, at the same time, we will email a new
invoice to you with the tracking number, and you will be tracking your
shipment online in 24 hours till you received it.
receiver:
city: IKEJA
country: NIGERIA
question: WHEN?
answer: NOW
I look forward to the pleasure of your kind favourable response fairly
soon, in the meantime with kindest regards and best wishes.

Yours Sincerely,
Raj Agrawal
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Western Union Management Team,
Corporate Offices & Headquarters
team@internationalmoneytransfer.co.uk.pn
____________________________________________________________
No part of this communication, including attachments, may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the express written
permission of Western Union. This document is intended for the use of the
addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam