419 scam: "WUT Management Benin Rep"<westernunion@westernunion.be> Western UnionX

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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. )
- "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)
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.
- +22996073976 (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.
- officefiles@edumail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WUT Management Benin Rep" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wut@mighty.co.za>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:55:03 +0100
Subject: Western UnionX

Western Union®

Dear customer.

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $500,000.00 USD
directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security
code.

We require you to re-confirm some more information in order to complete this transfer.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:

In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department:

Name: Evette Yormie.
Tel: +229 96073976
Fax: + 0866042919
E-mail: officefiles@edumail.co.za

As soon as this information is received, and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the
western union charges $95.00, the complete information of the first payment of your US$5,000.00 which has
been made to you through Western Union Money Transfer will be sent, which you will pick as soon as
possible in any western union office around you.

Track your first payment online now using senders first name and last name as directed below:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Here are the details:

Sender name : Tony ?
MTCN No: 6050250169
Amount: USD$5,000.00
Text Q.: ?
Text A: ?.

The sender name and other necessary details will be sent to you as soon as your credited file
KTU/9023118308 charge is paid and being activated. Contact our agent above for further details.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

DISPATCHED THIS DAY

Sincerely,

WUT Management Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam