419 scam: "Mr. Tony Adamu" <info@westernunion.com> Available For Pick Up

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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. )
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.
- ta2851465@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tony Adamu" <info@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: ta2851465@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2022 18:26:56 +0100
Subject: Available For Pick Up

Available For Pick Up

Attn: Sir/Madam,

Western Union Money Transfer, in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Reconciliation Committee had agreed to pay you a total amount of $350,000.00 USD compensation fund.

The compensation fund has been signed to be paid to you for all the money you have lost to scammers and through internet banking frauds.

Your name appeared on our payment schedule list of beneficiaries that will receive their funds in this 2nd quarter payment of the year according to our banking regulation. We apologize for the delay of your payment.

The sum of $3,000.00 USD or its equivalent in your local currency will be transferred to you via Western Union Money Transfer every day until all the $350,000.00 USD is sent across to you. We have registered your first payment of $3,000.00 USD online through Western Union Money Transfer.

Just confirm your first payment with below instruction, Open this website: www.westernunion.com Send and Track Money Online Now | Western Union sends and tracks money from the United States with Western Union's international money transfer services. www.westernunion.com, then click "Track Transfer", for you to see the status of the transaction online.

As soon as you open the website, enter this tracking number (MTCN): 8708355600. As soon as you enter the tracking number click "Track Transfer" to confirm by yourself. These are the details you need to present to the western union officials. Also go with your id card:

MTCN: 8708355600 ,
Sender Names: FRANK MARTIN,
Sender Country: United States.
Amount sent: $3,000 USD first payment.

Money Transfer | Global Money Transfer | Western Union

Go to any Western Union outlet in your area and pick it up. Make sure you go with a Photocopy of your FUND TRANSFER PERMIT and identification of yourself like Drivers License, National Identification or International Passport.

The Fund Transfer Permit is a Certificate that will prove to the Monetary Authority of your Country that your fund is not for any illegal transaction. You will present the copy of the FUND TRANSFER PERMIT to the Western Union outlet where you will pick the first $3,000 from and with the FUND TRANSFER PERMIT, they will release the money to you without any query.

You must get the FUND TRANSFER PERMIT ready before going to pick up the first payment of $3,000 from any Western Union outlet there in your location otherwise they may not release the fund to you. For further inquiries, please feel free to contact us via: ta2851465@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Tony Adamu.
Western Union Agent

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam