419 scam: "Mr OPONG AGABI" <western@public.dnacom.com.tw> WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION OFFICE HERE IN AFRICA

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. )
- "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 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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 OPONG AGABI" <western@public.dnacom.com.tw>
Reply-To: westernunior03@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2019 05:36:29 +0800 (CST)
Subject: WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION OFFICE HERE IN AFRICA

WELCOME TO
WESTERN UNION OFFICE HERE IN AFRICA
>
> Hello my dear, How are you today hope you
are fine? I write to inform you that we have already sent
you $5,200.00. Unite State Dollars through
> Western union as we have been given the
mandate to transfer your full compensation payment the
total sum of $100,000 Million Dollars) via western
> union by this Government,
>
> I was been trying to
send you an E-mail since yesterday for the Western Union
payment Details but the message keep returning back I
don't really
> know why, therefore I
try to re-send the e-mail to you again today with all the
Western Union payment information for you to pick up the
money
> from any outlet Western Union
around you, such as MTCN and Sender Name so that you will
pick up this $5,200.00. United State Dollars to enable
> us send another $5,200.00. Tomorrow as you
know we will be sending you only$5,200.00 United State
Dollars per day.
>
>
Please copy all this information and run to any nearest
Western Union to pick up the $5,200.00. And call me back to
send you another payment
> tomorrow, my
direct phone line is +2349030465143, Manager: Dr.Paul
Larry.call or email me once you picked up this $5,200.00.
United State
> Dollars today,
>
> Here is the Western
Union information to pick up the $5,200.00. United State
Dollars
>
>
Sender’s First Name____Paul
> Senders
Second Name____Larry
> Senders Country
KENYA
> Text question___When
> Answer__45Minutes
>
Amount$5,200.00
> MTCN
Number___#877-051-1895
>
> Using below this link to Track Your
MTCN:877-051-1895 Only then confirmyour payment is available
for pick before going to western union
>
this is the link to confirm,https://www.
westernunion.com/us/en/self-
service/app/tracktransfer?s_ tnt=96340:0:0
>
> I am waiting for
your call once you pick up this $5,200.00. Please E-mail me
your direct telephone number because I need to be calling
you
> once we send any payment for the
information. Note we really need your current direct phone
so that once we make any payment we shall call you
> for the MTCN.in Case if You Want to
Receiving Your Fund Through Bank TO Bank is allowed.To
Receiving
>
> Yours
in Service
> Mrs. Jessica Ezeh

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam