419 scam: "Western Union Money Transfer®"<outlet3custserv@westernunion.com> Re: Western Union Money Transfer® Payment Alert --

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (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 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.
- olaamos@maktoob.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer®" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wumtoutlet3@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:02:05 +0100
Subject: Re: Western Union Money Transfer® Payment Alert --

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer.

Dear Customer,

We received directives from Mr. Mark Lemon to transfer US$200,000.00 to you through our Western Union Money Transfer Service.

You will be receiving the Money Transfer Control Numbers for $10,000.00 daily until you have received the total of 20 MTCN's transacted in your name.

Mr. Mark Lemon has notified us that you are to settle the transfer charges on ONLY the first transaction of $10,000 already paid to your name.

You are hereby required to send the transfer charges of $565 [Five Hundred and Fifty-Five United State Dollars only] being the charges on the initial $10,000.00 paid.

Verify that your MTCN is available for pick-up but you are not be authorised to pick up the first $10,000, while the fund will remain 'on hold' until you pay the transfer fee to release the hold on the transfer.

Find your tracking information and track the status of your funds by visiting the Western Union Money Transfer Tracking Page, copy and paste the link below into your browser:

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=global

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): 2365331646
Sender's First Name: Mark
Sender's Last Name: Lemon
Amount Sent: $10,000

Confirm the status of your funds, proceed to remit the transfer charges as instructed to effect the release of the hold on your transfer with immediate effect.

Send the transfer charges through our front desk agent with the information below:

Receiver First Name: OLA
Receiver Last Name: AMOS
Office Address: Outlet 3, Zone 2, Wuse, Abuja - Nigeria
Test Question: Color
Test Answer: White
Amount To Send: $565
10 Digit Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): **********

For confirmation and release of the hold on your transfer, forward your receipt of payment by e-mail through the front desk teller at:

olaamos@maktoob.com

We look forward to serving you better.

Signed:

The Manager,
Western Union Money Transfer
Outlet #3,
FCT - Abuja, Nigeria

With Western Union Money Transfer service, Money transfer is performed within 15-20 minutes. No bank account is required.

CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING: The contents of this email are confidential. They are intended for the named recipient(s) only.
If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager or the sender immediately. Do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies thereof. Should you prefer a more secure mode of communication, please notify us.

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Anti-fraud resources:

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