419 scam: "WESTERN UNION" <info@westernunion.es> (no subject)

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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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- barceloseguros@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" <info@westernunion.es>
Reply-To: barceloseguros@yahoo.es
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 12:17:21 +0200 (CEST)
Subject:

Dear Esteemed Winner?

We are pleased to inform you of the release payment awarded to you by the
United State of America
Government/World Bank to compensate you on the past experience had with
the internet scammers.

I write to inform you, that you are entittle to $15,000.00USD everyday
through
Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full
compensation payment total sum of $415,810.00USD via Western Union by the
Government. your deposit registration number of: EB-2520 full in spanish
booklet.

I have on a good authority to email you the MTCN and sender's details to
enable
you pick up the first payment of $15,000.00,USD and confirm receipt to us
so as to
enable us wire the next USD15,000.00 by next day and subsequent ones since
we can only send $15,000.00USD a day.

MR.FENANDO LUIS MIGUEL PROMOTION (Program Director) can only released the
first
payment of $15,000.00,USD after data clarification and verification is done.
None Spanish citizen must register with the EUROPEAN BOARD.
Call or Email barceloseguros@yahoo.es To begin your prize claim,

Western Union contact information:
Head Office, Apartado De Correos Nº254,
28085 Madrid, España.
Manager: Don. Godson Alvaro Garcia
Email: barceloseguros@yahoo.es
Mobile:+34632457995

Please you are advice to fill the form bellow to enable easy recognition,
including a photo copy of your valued identity to be sent to our office.
after a proper verification of your details, the information to enable you
pick up the first payment
will be send to you by mail, before you can get to any western union in
your country to pick up the $15,000.00USD.
and email the Western Union outlets incharge of the payment before another
payment can be sent to you the next day.
if you want the full amount to be transffered directly to you, MARK
PAYMENT PROCESS PREFERRED:
BY CERTIFIED CHEQUE..., OR BANK TRANSFER.............

IF BY CERTIFIED CHEQUE, ADDRESS WHERE IT SHOULD BE SENT TO

IF BY BANK TRANSFER, send us your bank details for the transfer and a
photo copy of your international passport.

Full Name...............................
Age......................................
Sex......................................
Occupation................................
State....................................
Country...................................
Direct Telephone Number...................

NOTE: All prize money must be claimed not later than 27th August 2011.
After this date,
the funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as
unclaimed
Congratulations once again.

Best Regards,
Don. Godson Alvaro Garcia
Outlet Manager
WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam