419 scam: Mr steven sharma <officefunds478@gmail.com> Attention Your US$2,500 Pick-Up (MTCN) is:162-719-2570

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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. )
- "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. )
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.
- stevensharma478@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr steven sharma <officefunds478@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stevensharma478@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 May 2022 12:30:47 +0100
Subject: Attention Your US$2,500 Pick-Up (MTCN) is:162-719-2570

Attention Your US$2,500 Pick-Up (MTCN) is:162-719-2570

We stopped sending your money since this week because of spam emails
you were receiving from people that claim to be Western Union. We were
confused about this so we have tried and have arrested some of them.

Now the situation has calm down and we have started sending money to
the whole people concerned. The new arrangement is that what you will
receive everyday is $2,500.00 till the total sum of $750,000 is
completed and what you will pay every transfer to receive this fund is
$50 every transfer, but this is the beginning so you can go ahead and
pay whatever you have at hand to receive it so that when you receive
the first payment you will be able to pay $50 on every transfer. Your
the first payment has already been sent, this is the mtcn#;162-719-2570
track it, but you cannot pick it till you send any amount as I told you.

Below is your first payment for $2500 usd sent. Click on the link
below to track your $2500 payment status now. It is a compulsory step to
take if you really want to gain access to your payment. You can also
copy and paste the link on your web browser:

Track View Website link:
https://www.westernunion.com/ca/en/web/track-transfer/results
Money Transfer Control Number (REFERENCE) #
MTCN...162-719-2570
Sender first name:::Mr steven
Sender last name:::sharma
Western Union Director;Mr steven sharma
Email;stevensharma478@gmail.com
Western Union Department
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Send any amount you have by Gifts Card Listed below:

Your urgent response is highly needed in sending the $50usd to enable
us to proceed to reconfirm your payment file from the World Bank central
System. Send the $50 usd directly with the below method.

Google Play Card
Steam Wallet Card
Apple Gift Card
Ebay Gift Card

Note that you need to reconfirm this details from you in case if there
is any wrong with the one we sent then we correct it.
Full Name---------------
Country---------------------
Address------------------------
Tel-------------------------
Yours in service,
Mr steven sharma

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam