419 scam: "Mark James"<info@westernunion.com> Western Union Payment

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "mkjames@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: "Mark James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <whitaker.whitaker@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 23:16:52 -0700
Subject: Western Union Payment

Dear Sir/Madam,
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $1500, 000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/11, at the owner of this email address. The International Monetary Fund contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:

In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department: mkjames@w.cn
As soon as this information is received, and you complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from the Western Union transferring Bank. When emailing, please use reference number 250-147 for our mutual convenience.
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, OFFICE SPAIN BRANCH.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mark James.
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam