419 scam: "Western Union"<wstrunion89@gmail.com> OUR WESTERN UNION IS NOW OFFERING A SPECIAL BONUS 2010

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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.
- +22997019645 (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.
- westernu7@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernu7@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:22:35 +0100
Subject: OUR WESTERN UNION IS NOW OFFERING A SPECIAL BONUS 2010

HIERE IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 303)
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
E-MAIL ADDRESS = westernu7@yahoo.com.hk
Office Phone: + 229-9701-9645 .
WEBSITE. www.westernunion.com http://www.westernunion.com

Hello Dear Customer;

This is to notify all of our respectable customer like you about the latest development which is now in your favour concerning all the payment that are left here in our custody,which yours are inclusive Besides, where you are given a bill of $125,in order to receive your payment of which we didn’t hear from you for sometime now....

Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers that are having their funds payment transfer still left here in our office custody due to high prices. In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $95. 00 to receive all their funds transfer payment still abandoned here in our custody.

Already, we have transfereed your first USD$7,000.00 to you but its still onhold because you have not paid this $95 currently needed as your funds USD$1.5Million payment approval fee to release your funds..

You can track your fund on our western union website to see that we have already made the first $7,000.00 transfer to you but our western union bank put the money onhold until you pay this official fee which is now reduced to $95.00 .

Enter our website: www.westernunion.com then you click tracking, enter MTCN NUMBER / SENDER FIRST NAME/ SENDER LAST NAME as below stated.

MTCN: 1320172866
AMOUNT SENT: USD$7,000.00.
SENDERS FIRST NAME: Samson.
SENDERS LAST NAME: Long .

RECEIVERS FIRST NAME: Your First Name here .
RECEIVERS LAST NAME: Your Last Name Here .

You can see that your first $7,000.00 is available to pick up now but you can not pick it because its onhold until you have send the $95 to us .

Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you now which you have to comply immediately and your funds shall be immediately release to you on any of your desginated address which you may currently email to us.

But remember that after (14 official working DAYS) you did not make the payment, then we will regard your USD$1.5Million with us as unclaim & divert your funds to Goverment reserve account, to aviod problem or we will cancel the payment for this year until further notice because we are going to become very busy with other banking projects in a little period of time from now because this year is not like last year which we are less busy.

Again after (FOURTHEEN DAYS ) We will enter A new banking project for the year and that is the reason why we decided to help all our customers before we enter into the new project.

Therefore, be advise to send the $95.00 immediately you receive this email so that you will start receiving your funds USD$7, 000.00 per day from your morning time tomorrow & immediately because the world International Bureau & Funds Movement Monitoring Law & the world wide western union rules and money transfer regulatory law, forbids the transfer of amount above $7,000.00 in single transfer by western union . Hope you are aware of this information as it can likely be confirm from your bank and calling any local western union office points closest to your location .

Be advise that there is no time again for we to call any person on phone unless you will call us as + 229 97 01 96 45 or 00 229 97 01 96 45.
After the payment of $95.00 you will start receiving your money every day $7,000.00 through Western Union until the full payment of your USD$1.5Million is completely transfer to you.
So what you will be receiveing per day is $7,000.00 until you receive your complete USD$1.5 Million .

Send the money $95..00 through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below,

RECEIVER:.....MR. MICHAEL CHUKWUMA.
Fee Receivers Address : 455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC .
COUNTRY....... Benin Republic .
Text Question== In God
Text Answer.....We Trust.
Amount...............$95
Email us Senders Name : ............
Elail us MTCN Numbers :............

The moment our accountant i receives the payment of this $95, your first USD$7000 which is already showing available for you on our western union website but still onhold will instantly undergo releasing process which will takes only 12 hours from the time you sent the $95 which will be as soon as you wake up early your morning time tomorrow. This when i will release the ful information that will enable you to pick up your first payment already sent USD$7,000 to you and you will pick up the money and i will continue sending you the rest money USD$7,000 per day until your USD$1.5 Million is completely transfereed to you .

If you have any question pls. call us on this + 229-9701-9645 .

Hoping to hear soon from you for your own benefit.

MR. CHARLS BENSON.

CURRENT FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 303).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam