419 scam: "western union CODE: 001" <emma.okpo1@gmail.com> ( CODE: 001 )FROM 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:

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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- wu.23153@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "western union CODE: 001" <emma.okpo1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wu.23153@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:56:47 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ( CODE: 001 )FROM WESTERN UNION.

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

Address: No. 5 Western Avenue Cotonou,

West Africa, Republic Du' Benin

Name Mrs Rita Johnson.

E-mail wu.23153@yahoo.fr

Dear: Customer,

Information reaching us from our corporate headquarters here in Porto - Novo, the capital state of Benin Republic, states that you only have 48hours to effect your payment for the updating of your mtcn# 874-521-1042 to enable you cash up your first $6000 from your total fund of ( Nine hundred and seventy thousand united state dollars ) since you are finding it difficult to make this payment we have decided that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you have out of the required fee $265 since you are not able to come up with the total charge. But mind you, no amount below $50 will be accepted so we expect you to pay whatever amount from $50 and above. You are to pay what ever you have and we will activate your mtcn# number upon receipt of this payment.

Be informed that you will have to pay the balance fee upon cashing up your first $6000 also i am using this medium to inform you that failure to pay the balance charge will leave us with no option but to deactivate your transfers of which you will and can never cash up the daily payments, i want you to send the updating and activation fee with the information bellow.

Receiver: AUSTINE MMORAH

Country: Benin Republic

City: Cotonou

Question: Transfer Code ?

Answer: 001

AMOUNT SENT:

Please any amount you send let us know but remember what so ever amount below $50 will not be accepted. You can send us the payment informations immediately you send the money. Immediately we confirm the activation fee we will send you the first receipt of your $6000 at the same day. Regards Mr. Iyke Okeke from western union money transfer office Porto-Novo Benin Republic.

In addition to this, we have decided to compensate our entire client due to their inability to pay the requested fee from the authorities, the compensation started this morning and it will end on 30th October 2011 by reducing the high cost to low amount.

As the matter of fact, the transferring fee and all cost requested from the authorities has been cut down to any amount as you can afford and that is only money you have to pay to receive your payment because the transferring of your funds were approved and signed as well and we do contacted you today for your immediate attention over it.

Note that anything that has the beginning is also has the end in that case, first come first serve.

Western Union Money Transfer Service Office.

You are entitle to receive your payment today if you do send the money today as well. And please use this code number: ( 001 ) to indicate this very office the code is given to you and used as the subject of the message to you. Any message you receive claiming to have any transfer for you without this very identifying code, beware the mail is not from us and we don't mind if you forward this to us for more verifications.

We are waiting to hear from you today with the fee to enable this department to release your payment immediately.

Looking forward for your anticipated response.

Best Regards,

Mrs Rita Johnson. Transfers Agent

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER®

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam