419 scam: "Western Union"<headoffice2015@yandex.com> Payment

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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. )
- "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. )
- "your urgent reply" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernu630@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 05:14:47 -0600
Subject: Payment

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
SEND MONEY WORLD WIDE.
Our Ref: WUMT/BR/IMF/08/14

Attn Honourable Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice that we have already sent you the first
$5,000 dollars this morning through western Union as we have been
instructed to send you complete payment of $3.5 MUSD Via this western
union urgent transfer method , we wish to let you know that this fund you
are about to receive was approved by Government here in Benin, and it' s
%100 secured and safe. Conclusively therefore, We have received a new
directive to issue you fresh daily payments of $5,000 Below is the
information of today payment, I have a good authority to email you the
MTCN and sender's details to enable you pick up the first $5,000.00,USD
and confirm receipt to us so as to enable us wire the next USD5,000.00 USD
by tomorrow since we can only send USD5,000.00USD a day.

I have already sent you first $5000.00 to your address this morning

Money Transfer Control Number MTCN : 883-535-7909

Senders: Ken Udo

Test Question : $5,000.00 USD

Answer: Yes

I will send you another $5000.00 first thing tomorrow morning as i will
keep sending you only $5,000 every day until i send the complete funds to
you which is $3.500.000 in your beneficiary name, Track Your payment
online, https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=global
Once again you can verify this on the Western Union Website
www.westernunion.com The status is available to pick up but has not
reflected in your western union data at your location. You will not be
able to pick it up until you come down personally to obtain Clean Bill
Record Certificate as requested by the Imf to prevent any stoppage of your
daily payment.

However if you are not able to come down personally then you can just
provide the subsidized sum of $65 to allow us obtain the Clean Bill Record
Certificate so that you will be able to access and pick up this first
$5,000 from any western union agency in your location.

Note that this Clean Bill Record Certificate $65 is not required by
Western union or the Embassy but by IMF for verification and clearance to
ensure this fund is clean.This is required to allow you a hitch free
access to your daily payment of $5,000.

You are hereby required to send immediately through western union the sum
of $65 to the details of the cashier to allow him get the Clean Bill
Record Certificate

Use Below Information to make the payment:

Receiver Name: Ken Udo
Country: Benin Republic
City/address: Cotonou
Test Question: Honest
Test Answer: Trust
Amount: $65 usd

Send the Mtcn /RF# Number immediately you send the $65 for verification so
that you can also automatically be able to access the already sent $5,000
and pick it up without any delay

Your immediate response is expected

I apologies for the inconveniences you have encountered at this length.You
are to get back to me immediately you receive my email.
GOD BLESS YOU
Awaiting your urgent reply

Yours in service
Mr.Edward Luke
M.D WUMT. L.P , BENIN REP

A driver’s licence or current passport is required. In Quebec, a
provincial health card issued in Quebec also may be used. Identification
requirements may be different if the money is picked up

The service is available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each
Western Union Agent location determines its own hours of operation, and
most maintain extended hours, or even stay open around the clock. You can
find an Agent location online that will be open when you want to use it.
The Western Union Money Transfer Service is also available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year over the telephone. Simply call 1-800-265-0000 to speak
with our Customer Service representatives.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam