419 scam: WESTERN UNION <gplc8053@gmail.com> ttp://www.un.org/sg/

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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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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.
- uwestern614@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <gplc8053@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uwestern614@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2015 10:18:41 +0100
Subject: ttp://www.un.org/sg/

COTONOU BENIN
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

Attention:

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family?
We have been having a meeting for the passed 7 months, which ended 2
days ago with the secretary to the UNITED NATION.

This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of
the world, the UNITED
NATION has agreed to compensate you with the sum of US$ 700,000.00

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or
international businesses /INCLUDING LOTTO LOTTERIES WINNERS INHERITANCE
FUNDS, that failed due to Government problems etc.

We found your CONTACT DETAILS in our list and that is why we are
contacting you, these have been agreed upon and have been signed. You
are advised to contact THE western union. Dr.kenneth Aka chief managing
director of western union.

E-mail or
As he is our representative, contact him immediately for Instruction
has been given to the Direct to send your funds to you via WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone
number,immediately for your BONOS: In any-case you can't reach him on
this email uwestern614@gmail.com use this
Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive you funds.
Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Making the world a better place.
Regards,
Secretary-General (NIG)
http://www.un.org/sg/
Mr Tony Malanta

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam