419 scam: Cohen <w4@westernunion141.onmicrosoft.com> Beneficiary

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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:
- "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. )
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: Cohen <w4@westernunion141.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <cohen.matt@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 02:45:13 +0100
Subject: Beneficiary

Lieber Western Union Beg=FCnstigter,
UNITED NATIONS Zahlungsaufforderung.
Wir m=F6chten Sie informieren, dass die Vereinten Nationen (UN) hat uns er=
m=E4chtigt, Sie f=FChren einen Gesamtbetrag von $ 500.000,00 (f=FCnfhundert=
tausend US-Dollar).
Ihre Geldpreis wurde uns von den Vereinten Nationen bezahlt, und sie haben=
sich erfolgreich bei der Abscheidung Ihre ganze Fonds mit uns hier bei Wes=
tern Union Italien gelungen. Sie haben jetzt bei uns bestellt, die volle Ve=
rantwortung in der =DCbertragungsprozess der Mittel zu nehmen und damit beg=
innen die sofortige =DCberweisung von Ihren Fonds zu Ihnen.
Ordnungsgem=E4=DF informiert werden, dass wegen unserer Transferpolitik We=
stern Union, Ihr Geld wird Ihnen =FCber unsere Western Union =DCberweisung =
Tages Limit von $5.600,00 USD bezahlt werden.
Dies bedeutet, dass Sie st=E4ndig eine t=E4gliche Menge von $5.600,00 USD,=
und dieser Betrag kann von jedem unserer zahlreichen Filialen Western Unio=
n an Ihrem aktuellen Standort gesammelt werden. Um die Anspr=FCche Prozess =
Ihrer t=E4glichen Zahlungs beginnen, wie oben angegeben, werden Sie ben=F6t=
igen, um uns mit den folgenden bereitzustellen;
Ihr vollst=E4ndiger Name:
Anschrift:
Telefon-Nummer:
Nach dem Erhalt der oben genannten Details, Ihre erste Transaktion wird ak=
tiviert, und wir werden dann gehen Sie mit der Money Transfer Control Numbe=
r (MTCN) f=FCr die erste Tranche bieten, und wir werden Sie auch weiterhin =
nach 12 Stunden jede Zahlung empfangen E-Mail andere.
F=FCr weitere Informationen zu Ihren Zahlungsstatus, Kontaktieren Sie unse=
re Anspr=FCche Offizier mit den folgenden Informationen.
Mr.COHEN Matt.
Oder rufen Sie unsere Hotline +39 366 195 9222 f=FCr alle Anfragen auf die=
obige Nachricht.
Mit freundlichen Gr=FC=DFen
Angela Fabio.
F=FCr: Western Union Italien.
WESTERN UNION. Weltweit =FCber 380.000 Outlets.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam