419 scam: DR PAUL EGO <office------file02@att.net> Contact Western Union Payment office for your Funds today

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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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +22998451288 (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.
- westernunionpaymentbouns@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DR PAUL EGO <office------file02@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunionpaymentbouns@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:13:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Contact Western Union Payment office for your Funds today

Happy Christmas and New Year,
Www.westernunion.com,cotonou Benin republic,
Name of director DR PAUL EGO .Tel phone :+229-98-45-12-88
Contact email address { westernunionpaymentbouns@yahoo.com.hk }.

Attn:Receipt,
This Message is from (I.M.F) and Federal Ministry of Finance Burkina-Faso, This is to let you know that After the board meeting held at our headquarters yesterday,Your cheque has been cashed and the first $7,000 was sent today. We have concluded to release and effect your payment through western union $7,000 daily until the $800.000.00 is completed. the information are below:

First Payment has been send : MTCN:374-214-8530 NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name but you have to re-new your Payment file with the Western union as to enable them purchasing your transfer file to prevent illegal transfer before you pick it up.we instructed the western union office to keep sending you $7,000.00 daily until the payment of $900.000.00 is completed, again re-confirm your address to them by avoid sending it to wrong person so that they will be sure;

MTCN:374-214-8530
Sender Firs Name; Onochie
Sender Last Name:Gabriel

Track your payment on the website:www.westernunion.com
Contact Person Mrs.Awa Fatou of Westen Union Agency if any problem to enable her issue to you the text question and answer so that you can pick up the amount, below email is her emailaddress: westernunionpaymentbouns@yahoo.com.hk forward her your Telephone number and address so that she will be sure.

TAKE NOTE:that because of internet hackers we ask the Western Union office not to mark the payment paid yet until you re-new and purchasing your transfer file so when track this payment it will show picked up it is from the Western Union office.
view more details about me
Currently IMF is giving out special grant on Economic empowerment program to selected corporate entities and Charitable organizations around the globe for the outstanding role and tangible performance in area of eradicating poverting and industrial empowerment.
Dr PAUL EGO,
IMF Grant Unit
www.imf.org
Western Union Tel Phone:+229-98-45-12-88
Regard,
DR PAUL EGO

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam