419 scam: "Western Union"<wstrunion89@gmail.com> MESSAGE FROM WESTERN UNIONis Prof.Rickey Tarfa/Please ReaPŒë¸"

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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)
- "western.union85@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.
- +22998672388 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western.union85@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:05:22 +0100
Subject: MESSAGE FROM WESTERN UNION

Attn: Beneficiary,

Be informed that your part-payment of ($950.000.00 USD) from International Monetary Fund Unit (IMF) has been approved to transfer via our department of Western Union, Meanwhile your urgent respond is highly needed with the re-confirmation of your details where and how to receive your funds in our office such as: Your Name: Country: State and City.

Also the payment of US$8,000.00 has already been made through Western Union for you to pick it up, but before you can have access to pick up your first payment you are required to pay sum of (US$97.00 ) for reactivating of your payment files KTU/9023118308 and also to ensure you are the right person to receive the fund. Upon receiption of the Activation fee, we shall forward the payment details of the first transfer of US$8,000.00 to you and you can pick it up at any Western Union in your country.

You can easily get back to us via email or telephone # for more details while the amount you will be confirming daily is (US$8,000.00) starting from the day we receive the Activation fee.

You can also use the name below to send the Activation Fee via Western Union or money gram and send to us the payment details:

Receiver Name:???? Ginikanwa Innocent
Country:???????? Benin Republic.
City:???????? Cotonou
Text Q:???????? How?
Text A:???????? Fine

MTCN Number#,......
Sender's Name:.......

Here is the e-mail address you can contact us and also the person that can work on your files after you made the payment of US$97.00

Director; Rev. Mike Johnson
E-Mail :( western.union85@w.cn )
Direct line: +229-98-6723-88

We are looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.
Mrs.Rose Abam
Western Union Headquarter Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam