419 scam: "Mr Peter Moore," <office.stephendavid@btinternet.com> URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

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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. )
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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 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.
- wester.nunion@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Peter Moore," <office.stephendavid@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: officebx58@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 13:28:36 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Contact Western Union For Your Payment
CONGRATULATIONS
!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Jan 2010 Lottery
draws held on the 5th Jan, 2010. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
883734657492-5319 with serial number 7263-267,batch number 8254297137, lottery
ref number 7336065782 and drew lucky numbers 14-22-28-37-40-44 which
consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a
lump sum pay out of ($800 000.00 USA Dollars)

Please note that this
Promotional Programmed tagged "Thanks for contributing to our financial Success"
was sponsored and organized by the Yahoo Corporation in view of the Financial
benefits YAHOO have received from its numerous customers either through adverts,
hosting and personal emails. For processing and remittance of your winnings,
you are required to contact Western Union.

we will send you the total
money through Western Union Money Transfer because it will be less expensive and
reliable for you to be receiving your daily $5000 dollar until you receive your
total money completely. we will send you the total money through Western Union
Money Transfer because it will be less expensive and reliable for you to be
receiving your daily $5000 dollar until you receive your total money
completely.

We deposited your Money in Western Union 800 000.00 USA
Dollars with Western Union Benin Branch,
So you are to contact them on below
information,
Vital Finance Location Address; Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell
Street CO/B/REP,

Contact Person: Mr Peter Moore,
E-mail: (
wester.nunion@hotmail.com)

Please make sure you send this needed
information to the Director General of Western Union Mr Peter Moore with the
Email given to you. So confirm your details to avoid any hitches in receiving
your full payments.

This is what they need from you
Name::::::::::::
Receiver's
Name::::::::
Country::::::::::::::
City:::::::::::::::::
Tel::::::::::::::::::
Test
question::::::::
Answer:::::::::::::::
The Yahoo
Management

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam