419 scam: "Rick Edo"<blessingifechi@yahoo.fr> Welcome to 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. )
- "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.
- +22997070361 (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.
- w_unionofficeb2@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rick Edo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w_unionofficeb2@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 06:41:41 -0400
Subject: Welcome to Western Union

Wellcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Address: C/468 BP Rue Du Jerico Avenue Cotonou,
Benin Republic,West Africa.
E-mail: w_unionofficeb2@sify.com
Tel:+229 970 70361
WEB:httWelcomep://site.www.westernunion.com/

Attn :Beneficiary,
How are you doing today? We are writing in regards to your oustanding payment of $1.8Million with western union payment office here in
Benin Republic.

It came to my notice that you were ask to pay some amount of money $570 to receive your funds which you did not comply up till now.
Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers that are having their payment in our custody due to
prices. In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $67 to receive all their payment
abandoned in our custody.

As a matter of fact, your first payment of $5000 is ready for you to pick up at western union now but we have be instructed by the
Honourable Minsiter of Finance here not to give your first payment of $5000 information to you until you comply with them by renew your
payment file and legalise all the legal documents therein to back up your funds.

So, go and send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:

RECEIVER NAME:.....ANTHONY UDEH.
CITY...................... Cotonou,
COUNTRY.............. Benin Republic.
Text Question...... WHO IS GREAT?
Answer................GOD
Amount...............$67
MTCN............

Be rest assured that everything will be finalise the moment i receive the payment of $67 from you and you will start picking up your daily
payment of $5000 immediately untill the total amount is completed.

You can call me on my line +22997070361

Sincerely,

RICK EDO
Western Union Payment Department Head office
Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam