419 scam: "PAYMENT" <westrneunionnomeyt@att.net> Re: Your $5000.00 payment is ready for pick up by you nowPŒë¸"

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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. )
- "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)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2347039886183 (Nigeria, 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.
- westernxunion2@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PAYMENT" <westrneunionnomeyt@att.net>
Reply-To: <westernxunion2@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 19:11:21 -0800
Subject: Re: Your $5000.00 payment is ready for pick up by you now

Western Union Head Office
Lagos Nigeria
www.westernunion.com

Re: Your $5000.00 payment is ready for pick up by you now

I write to inform you that in our Board of Director`s meeting today being the 15 of November 2010 which was held for the purpose of a new year resolution, your case was presented to western union Director General due to the incompletion of your payment last year 2009. Though, a mandate was given by the Director General stating that our western union branch office must finalize your payment within a given period of time starting from today.

So you be informed that following the instruction from Director General, we have started to transfer your funds in daily payout of $5000 per transfer.
Today we have already sent you US$5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of US$800,000.00 via western union by the West African government without any further delay.I have be waiting to receive your email so that I will give you the information but you did not email us.

So I decided to email you with the information of your first payment of $5000.00 Please take this information and rush to the nearest western union and pick up this $5000.00 and call me so that I shall send you another $5000.00 as you know we will be sending you only US$5000.00 per day until all your payment is transfered to you.

Direct Line: +2347039886183
Email: westernxunion2@gmail.com

Name: Mr Edward Atta Bobo

Here is the information to pick up the first $5000.00;
MTCN: 2823418407

Sender's Name: William Weldon

Text Question: In God?
Answer: We Trust
Amount: US$5000.00

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00, and email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send another payment.

Accept our congratulations.

MR EDWARD ATTA BOBO
Direct Line: +2347039886183
Email: westernxunion2@gmail.com

Western Union Head Office
Lagos Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam