419 scam: "Mr. Harris Parker"<parker.harris56@yahoo.com.hk> I sent the payment through Western Union!!!

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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:

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. )
- "bannisterlouis@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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. Harris Parker" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 09:01:05 +0100
Subject: I sent the payment through Western Union!!!

Dear Partner,

I sent the payment via Western Union Money Transfer in your name as I do not have your account details correctly.

Please find the transaction details below:

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): XXX-XXX-1730
Amount Sent: $18,000 USD
Text Question: Color ?
Answer: Yellow.
Sender Name : Coddy Brown.

NOTE: I have coded the MTCN number to protect you from internet hackers, so that they dont steal the information and claim your money. But after a due process of your Western Union
Gold Card your MTCN will be activated in the admin database of western union money transfer system.

You can go to any Western union location right now and pick up the cash. I hope that you have a Western Union Gold Card? You will need this to claim the money I send you from any Western Union agent or location world-wide.

I am currently handling a construction project in Qatar, in the Middle East and it will take 5 to 8 months to complete the job and I will not have access to internet so often.

Remember that if you do not claim the money before 15 days, they will call back the money to my card. And if you do not have the Western Union Gold Card, you cannot pick up the cash.

I may not be around to reply any of your emails now, since I will always be at the construction site but I will talk to you as soon as I return.

If you do not have a Western Union Gold Card, you may contact the western union postage department, with the agent details below so that they will provide a Western Union Gold Card for you immediately and also send you the scanned copy of the card via email.

Contact the office below for your Western Union Gold Card:

Contact Person: Mr. Louis Bannister
Email: bannisterlouis@ymail.com

Send the requested details to him as indicated below:

Your Full Name:
MTCN number: (as above)
Telephone:
Address: (including state and zip code)

As soon as the office gets the above information, they will use the credentials to create your Western Union Gold Card right away without any delay.

My best regards to you and your family,

Your Partner,
Harris Parker

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam