419 scam: Western Union <sonicxiti0@gmail.com> ATTENTION

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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:

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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348143374962

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <sonicxiti0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <western-union1986@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:13:23 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer,
Send Money Worldwide Office Department of Western Union
Visit Us Via Website: www.westernunion.com
ADDRESS: 14 Apapa-Oshodi, Express Way Oshodi-Isolo Lagos.
Visit Us Via Website: www.westernunion.com

Attention Beneficiary,

I am MRS. YELLEN IBRAHIM, I wish to bring to your notice based on the instruction passed to this Western Union department from the office of the Governor of Central Bank, a total sum of USD$2,700,000.00 United States Dollars only) Each, has been instructed to be paid to all the people that there funds transfer were stopped withheld or confiscated at the Ecowas office from any of the African Countries According to the explanations made, the Central Bank of the Country of Origin of your fund and the Government, have decided to take over the issue of your transfer, to save you from all wire transfer problems you where facing previously.

This is to help us check-mate all the Fraudulent activities going on here in West Africa at large. You shall be paid bit by bit until your total sum is completely received right from the Counter of any Western Union closest to you. We have been asked to release to you a total of US$7000.00 in every Seven Hours (7hours) until the funds is completely paid, as that is the maximum limit we are legally allowed to pay in a particular transaction.

After the failure in the transfer of your fund through other means which may have been made impossible by the European, American or British high commission and other bodies, I was ordered from the office of the President and the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIAN to make your payment swiftly via this medium, you will be receiving $7000.00 USD every seven hours until your payment is being paid complete.

Moreover, only charge in receiving this payment is the cost of (IMF) Sign and Stamp fee as it was required by (IMF) for the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIAN to do the transfer activation in your payment file which is your personal info that was supposedly to have the stated Compensation Fund. The required fee should be sent through western union. Upon the receipt of the $200.00 USD, your receivers name will be activated to enable you receive your first installment payment of $7000.00 immediately.

Note: You can not be able to start picking up the money until your Name is activated to the system. Immediately we receives the payment, we shall activate your name to enable you start receiving your payment immediately. Note: For security reasons, you are advised to keep your information confidential till your Payment is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner.

Thank you for using Western Union!
WesternUnion®Money Transfer
Call: +234 8143374962
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ADDRESS: 14 Apapa-Oshodi, Express Way Oshodi-Isolo Lagos.
Visit Us Via Website: www.westernunion.com

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
KIND REGARDS.
MRS. YELLEN IBRAHIM.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam