419 scam: "Mr. Norman King" <julia@vjtravel.com.ua> WESTERN UNION /WU

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (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: "Mr. Norman King" <julia@vjtravel.com.ua>
Reply-To: western.unionoffice567@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2018 23:08:13 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION /WU

--
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
SEND MONEY WORLD WIDE.
OFFICE PHONE +441613941196

Attention.

What is real going on? I have sent you several emails since Yesterday without
a respond from you' why?,
We write in respect of your value funds worth $900,000 USD which have been
legally approved by the authorities permit for payment but there is small
ugly situation issue on your payment file which needs your urgent attention
to solve the issue.
Well your first payment $5000.00 USD Mtcn is ready for pickup in any Western
Union nearby you but you can't pick it up right now because we have not yet
activate your payment file that will help us renew your Mtcn number for
checkmating and record keeping until the total amount of $900,000 USD is been
transferred in your favor.

However we Western Union is not allowed to make all payment of $5000 at once
to individuals person without proper identification for security reasons,
so you have to make the payment of $95,00 USD for purchasing of your
International Remittance Form (I.R.F) and (Activation) before we can release
the full information of your first payment text question and answer for
further pickup at your western union agent location today.

Furthermore ,

Here is your Mtcn Number for your first payment of $5000.00 USD so you are
advice to track it now on your computer or mobile phone to confirm yourself
it eyes witness.

Money Transfer Control Number

(MTCN):# 6439265338

Sender's name :Elizabeth Doody

Below is your first payment Details,

https://www.westernunion.com/au/en/self-service/app/tracktransfersuccess

You are advised to go to the nearest Western Union Money Transfer agent
around you and send the fee immediately because the fee is the only thing
delaying your fund to be released as the fund is presently on our system.
Below is the information you will use to send us the fee of $95,00 USD Via
western union or Money Gram to enable us obtain the needed international
remittance form to ensure you start receiving your payment today without any
hesitation or obstacle okay.

Receivers Name........ Precious Ukpolo
Country....... Lagos Nigeria
Text Question....When
Answer......Now
Amount sent.......$95,00
Sender Name.......
Mtcn Number........

Every other logistics as regards to the smooth pickup of the $5000 to you has
been well taking care of and you have nothing to worry about any form of
illegality that may warrant security threat to your social lives as obedience
and law abiding citizen, Just make sure that you have a valid I'D card as you
will be ask to present that to your western union outlet before the money
will be given to you as proof you as the right beneficiary. Call me upon
receipt of this message. +1 507 512 8151

Yours sincerely
Thanks and looking forward to your prompt response
Mr. Norman King

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam