419 scam: "Elizabeth Okai" <westernunion_office@shuf.com> Re: Your Western Union MTCN Number.

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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.
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.
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.
- philip_operator@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Elizabeth Okai" <westernunion_office@shuf.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 23:13:06 -0700
Subject: Re: Your Western Union MTCN Number.

Dear customer,

This is to inform you that we received a signal today as a Western Union
Agent to transfer the sum of $250,000 Dollars Only to you, but
unfortunately we were only given your email address to contact you for your
full data to enhance the transaction.
As you know that we cannot use only email address for the transaction,
therefore contact the Head of our system Operation, Mr Philip Fisher
on:(philip_operator@yahoo.it) for your MTCN Number.

We wait for your immediate compliance.

Regards,

Elizabeth Okai.

Information Manager,
Western Union.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam