419 scam: Western Union Solicitors Fund <tanchiro58@sbcglobal.net> MESSAGE FROM WESTERN UNION

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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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "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.
- +22997988072 (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.
- westernunion108@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Solicitors Fund <tanchiro58@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: westernunion108@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:05:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MESSAGE FROM WESTERN UNION

Attention: Beneficiary

The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your unpaid compensation Acrrude interest of $850.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/6523118308 at the owner of this email address a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer. FULL NAME: FULL CONTACT ADDRESS: MOBILE PHONE NUMBER; MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:

In order to resolve this problem,please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund verification Department; E-mail (westernunion108@gmail.com) As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges $350USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from the Western Union Transfering Bank.The charge is required to activate your Payment File Pin Code to enable it be Enlisted in the System for immediate transfer. International Monetary Fund (IMF) that mandated the fund payment did not pay the fee because it is required to be beared by the fund beneficiary since every other charge had been waived before the payment will be effected.

NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name and you can only pay them $350 as to enable confirmation and immediate payment of the approved fund of US$850,000.00 only in your favor. Note that the administrative and logistic fee is the only charge entailed in the fund payment. Once it is settled by the fund beneficiary the payment will be made according to his directive. My word is my bond to you as a catholic reverend father here in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The Western Union Payment Centre has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment, because we dont know any other office that are imposition to transfer your fund to you apart from this our office, Note that the administrator payment needs this detail from you to process your payment:

This is directly from the Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and our Motto is To Serve You Better.
PLEASE CALL THIS Direct Line +229-9798-8072 FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THIS MESSAGE.

Sincerely,
Rev.John Hillary. Direct Line +229-9798-8072
(westernunion108@gmail.com)
Western Union Payments.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam