419 scam: "Dr Peter Grayson" <officefile0177@bellsouth.net> Get in touch with 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "www.wumt.benin@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "www.wumt.benin@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998911381 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Peter Grayson" <officefile0177@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: <www.wumt.benin@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 21:35:21 -1200
Subject: Get in touch with western union

Attn: My Dear Friend,

Now we have arranged your payment of (US$2.5 Million) Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars in your ATM payment card to be sent to you in cash through Financial Bank Western Union Money Transfer Department: Your Inherittance Winning Funds will be sending to you by western union and the amount you will be receiving per day is $5,000, only. The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standard tracking details you need to pick up your ($5,000) payment by western union and you will be receiving your money in every two days till you receive the total fund of ($2.5Million USD). Now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be able to withdraw the atm card in your country due to the atm master card contains large money on it.The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with Dr Victor Moorvis in Financial Bank Benin on this email: ( www.wumt.benin@w.cn) however, kindly conta
ct the below person who is in pos

Dr Victor Moorvis.
Financial Bank Benin,
Western Union Department.
Tel: +229-98-91-13-81
E-mail: ( www.wumt.benin@w.cn )

The financial bank western union payment center 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. Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your payment without any delay:
Your Receiver name:--------------
Country:------------------------------
City:------------------------------------
Tel:-------------------------------------
Text question:---------------------
Answer:-----------------------------

Comply immediately because as soon as you sent this required details to Dr Victor Moorvis, he will start sending your payment by western union.
My Regards,
Dr Peter Grayson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam