419 scam: WESTERN UNION <officefile175@gmail.com> CONTACT US FOR THIS EMAIL NOW EMAIL.westerunionoffic44@yahoo.com.hk

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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. )
- "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229998185492 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westerunionoffic44@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <officefile175@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westerunionoffic44@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:22:19 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: CONTACT US FOR THIS EMAIL NOW EMAIL.westerunionoffic44@yahoo.com.hk

Attention;
Â
We received your mail and the content is well noted, through the board meeting held with the minister of finance we agreed to release all the over due payment in every western union office in Benin Republic to the rightful beneficiaries but the first payment we sent to you was misdirect and onhold because we missplace your name and address and we want you to recomfirm it to us so we can resendÂ the fund to you and start sending the $1. 500.000.00 us dollars. You are to first pay the sum of $65 transfer of your fund but our federal western union office said thatÂ the owner of the fund most obtain IMF certificate before we start transfer your fundÂ to you ok , so I myself ask them if the certificate is needed urgent before we start transfer your fund to you and they said yes is needed urgent so that every day we transfer your fund to you, you will pick it up easier without pay any fee again ok ,
Â
so I understand that the IMF certificate will cover your payment we will send to you every day because theyÂ said that if we donâ€™tÂ obtain the certificate on behalf now that will cost you paying fee any day we transfer your payment to you okay so that is the reason why the IMF state certificate is very needed so that will cover your payment that we will send to you every day I think you know that you willÂ start receive your payment every day as I told you before so my dear the only thing that delay you to start receive your payment every day is that IMF certificate so as soon as we obtain it for your behalf now you will start receive your payment every day so that the certificate will cover your payment every day without you paying any fee again ok,
Â
but my dear listen to me now well the only promise am give to you right now is that as soon as am this office for now you will receive all your total fund once you follow my advice okay, so their said that the IMF certificate is very cost before but as of now is only sum of $65 . dollarsÂ Â so amÂ Thank GodÂ for that , that the certificateÂ is not cost much money for now , so noting passÂ GodÂ every thing is God in hand okay, so what I need you to do urgent is to send the fee of to obtainÂ the certificate so that first thing tomorrow morning in my country which is tomorrow morning I confirm the fee of obtain the certificate from you I will driver down to the federal western union office and obtain the IMF certificate for your behalf so that if I return to our office your transfer of your fund will start carry on without waste time ok,

Take note:That we have already sent the first payment of $5000 which the below info is stated:
Â
MTCN: 9788593788
SENDER'S FIRST NAME: Eija
SENDER'S LAST NAME: Mantymaki
QUESTION----------What
TEST ANSWER------------Who
AMOUNT-------------------$5,000USDONL
Â
CONTACT USÂ EMAIL. (westerunionoffic44@yahoo.com.hk)
Mr.Chinedu OKOYE
+229-9 98185492
because I want to make sure that you start receive your fund from this week which from tomorrow morningÂ in my country which is first thing tomorrow morningÂ okay , because as I receive the fee from you to obtain the IMF certificate will not waste time okay so my dear try all your best and send the fee as you receive this mail I sent to you now okay that is only thing that will delay us to start transfer your fund to you tomorrow okay remember what I told you that if you follow my advice you will receive you fund easier ok,
Meabwhile we are hereby to notify you about the issue of the IMF) certificate which will cost you the sum of $65,update with the payment information with below information:
Below is the information you need to make the payment via our services
(Western Union Money Transfer)
Â
SEND THE FEE WITH THIS INFORMATION
Â
Reciever Name: :MBANEFO AUSTN
Location: :Cotonou,
Country: :Benin Republic
Text Q: :HowÂ Long?
Answer::::::Soonest
Mtcn::::
AMOUNT:........$65dollars only
Thank
CONTACT US FORÂ THISÂ Â NOW Â
Mr.Chinedu OKOYE
+229-9 98185492
Yours in Service
Manager in charge

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam