419 scam: "WESTERN UNION" <notice@westernunion.com> Your Payment Via Western Union MTCN: 9394716086

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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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (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.
- +2348080500309 (Nigeria, 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.
- wu_response@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" <notice@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: <wu_response@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:34:37 -0500
Subject: Your Payment Via Western Union MTCN: 9394716086

Western Union Money Transfer@
Email:wu_response@yahoo.co.jp
Tell:+234-8080500309
Website: www.westernunion.com

WESTERN UNION INSTALMENT PAYMENT ONLY.

Attn:

We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation Center In conjuction with the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent steven clayton with the United Bank for Africa has approved the payment sum of $500,000,00(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) as a DEPT RECONCILIATION PAYMENT, for your funds with FedEx Courier Company for payment to you as the Beneficiary and owner of the amount $500,000.00usd.

After the Law Enforcement judgement between the FedEx Courier and the United Bank for Africa manegement, The meeting held on the 30th of November 2008,with the aformentioned office and banks, the Concluded arrangement has appointed our office to pay your lost payment through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner. The Management of the FedEx courier Branch here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information’s to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transfered under instalment at rate of $5,500 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $5,500 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under instalment of $5,500 daily till the amount of usd$500.000.00 is completely paid to you and you alone as the owner of the stated amount. In other words. We have today transferred your fi

Payment information
Senders First Name: Carlos Israel
Senders last Name: Ibarra Martinez
MTCN: 9394716086 (Track the mtcn with the 1-800-325-6000 )
Text Question: Sport?
Answer: Golf
Amount Programmed: $5,500

The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $150 will be sending to our office here in care to ............ through western union money transfer nearest to you:

OUR RECEIVER'S INFORMATION FOR YOUR DAILY ACTIVATION FILE FEE

Receivers Name: John Clayton.
City & Country: Abuja,Nigeria
Amount: $150
Text Question: Faith
Answer: In God.

As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer Mtcn to help us proceed with immediate transfer release of your instalment payment.
Notice: This payment was approved by the federal ministry of finances Abuja, Nigeria to the above beneficiary name only.

We anticipate your kind co-operation.

Thanks For Using Western Union Office.

Sincerely Regards,
Mr. Steven Njama.
Tell:+234-8080500309
Payment Department Western Union Office

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam