419 scam: "WESTERNUNION@WESTERNUNION.GOV" <mkesurfer@yahoo.com> RE: YOUR FIRST $4,500 usd HAS BEEN SENT, MTCN NO# 8715091992

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "moneytransferworldwide@w.cn" (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: "WESTERNUNION@WESTERNUNION.GOV" <mkesurfer@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: moneytransferworldwide@w.cn
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:02:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: YOUR FIRST $4,500 usd HAS BEEN SENT, MTCN NO# 8715091992

Attn please,

We are instructed to send your fund to your address in your city from the financial department here in Benin Republic by the government of Benin stating that the fund is your overdue inheritance fund and you will be receiving your fund in daily installment payment of ($4,500 usd) twice per day starting from today and you will receive the total sum of ($usd850.000.00) through our office Western Union Department without any hitch.

I want to use this opportunity to inform you that Benin government is planning to cancel your funds and divert it into government transparency accounts due to the fact that you have failed to contact us with our request and claim your fund without any hitch or delay.

You are require to send the sum of $58.00 usd been full payment for the transfer activation fee to enable us reconfirm your payment file from the desk of the federal ministry of finance, note we are not liberty to deduct the fund since your fund is in escrow suspend account, meanwhile you are hereby advised to send the $58 usd to us immediately you received this message so as you can be able to pick up your first payment freely from any of our correspondent Western Union Office in your country today,

The money has been transferred correctly to your address and we will mail you the payment information you may need to pick up 4500 usd in any Western Union around you once you send the required $58 usd for the activation,

To confirm your payment online please visit our website www.westernunion.com then click tracking and enter the mtcn numberâ€¦8715091992 following by senders first nameâ€¦Victoria and last name.Cholewa ... and click tracking,

Below is the payment information of your first pick up.
Sender name: Victoria Cholewa
MTCN : 8715091992
Text question::: Thank?
Answer:::::::::::: God.
Amount: of usd$4,500.00

So you should fine below our cashier agent information and send the $58 usd through western union money transfer so as we can be able to secure the immediate release of second payment today,

1. Receiver name:.....Chiozie Paul
2. Country:.........Benin Republic
3. City:..................Cotonou.
4. Test Question:.....Thank?
5. Test answer:........God.
6. Amount:....$58 usd only

Your urgent respond is highly needed as soon as you receive this message,

Regards
Western UnionÂ® yours in service. Anderson Caruana, Director,
Western Union Money Transfer Headquarter Benin Rep.
Tel: 0022999211482
Email: moneytransferworldwide@w.cn

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam