419 scam: Wunion Agent <ctu.dept@gmail.com> NEW TRANSACTION ! MTCN NO: 958-833-6837

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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. )
- "million us 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)
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.
- westiunion08@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Wunion Agent <ctu.dept@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <wunion.agent516@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2016 10:00:54 -0700
Subject: NEW TRANSACTION ! MTCN NO: 958-833-6837

Western Union Agent Location
We Send Money Worldwide
24 hours Service Center,
Our Ref: WUMT0XX2/987
Tel: +18003256000

To Beneficiary / Money Recipient,

Our Affiliated branch of western union wishes to inform you that we have been mandated by the International Monetary Unit
(IMU) to remit your payment of $1.8 million US dollars to you through our pay-service Western Union Money Transfer "WUMT".
The money was deposited at our branch and we shall be sending your payments everyday until you receive your complete sum.
Be informed that we have processed your first payment of $5000.00 USD, however the US$1.8 Million is covered by a non deductible
insurance policy, the $5000.00 USD will not be released to you until you pay for our service charges which amounts to $380.34.
You have to send this payment via our pay-service "WUMT" to the information provided below.

Immediately we confirm your payment of $380.34, we shall release your first $5000.00 USD to enable you pick it up and get
back to us for the second payment.

Transaction MTCN Number of the first payment $5000.00 is "958-833-6837"
To confirm status of this transaction, dial +1-800-325-6000 from your mobile phone.
Follow the automated instructions to confirm that this transaction is available.

Below is the information to send the $380.34 service charge.

First Name: Shashidhar
Last Name: Batchu
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As soon as you send the $380.34 payment forward the scanned copy of the payment to westiunion08@gmail.com email so
that we can start releasing your payments.

Also forward your details to the above email to enable us update your record in our subsequent pay out for future transactions.

1.Your Full Name...
2.Your Address...
3.Your Tel Number....
4.Occupation.......
5.Country....

We know this will take some time to receive all your complete funds but you can also make your transactions faster, if you can find
one or two person you trust to join you in receiving your payments via "WUMT", these person(s) must be up to 18 years old and must have
a government issued id (drivers licence or international passports). This is the only way to avoid all the monetary restrictions
associated with hugh bank to bank money transfers.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.

Yours in service
Mr. Pubathy Nadeson
Manager, Western Union Banda Sri Atamas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam