419 scam: "WESTERN UNION OFFICE." <officefile----002@att.net> Dear Western Union Valid Customer.

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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. )
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- +22993219772 (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.
- diamondexpressdeliveryoff01@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION OFFICE." <officefile----002@att.net>
Reply-To: diamondexpressdeliveryoff01@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:09:48 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Western Union Valid Customer.

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.COTONOU

BENIN-REPUBLIC;ADDRESS 55 SCHOOL ROAD OPPOSITE EDITH HOSPITAL COTONOU.

WEBSITE;www.westernunion.com (OR) http://site.www.westernunion.com/

NOTIFICATION*NOTIFICATION*NOTIFICATION !!!

Dear Western Union Valid Customer,

We are hereby notifying all our customers about the new development from

International Money Monitoring Fund (IMF) and World bank early this year 2011

meetings and biddings concerning all the customers funds that are with us

here in this Western Union Office, of which the monies has been long over

due in our vault and by our rules and regulations, we are not authorised

to holds or keeps any fund here in our care for a long period of time.

So, the conclution of the meeting is to send this your fund directly to

you through a Government approved delivery company,You are advise to

contact the delivery company now for their immediate delivery to your

doorstep without any delay.

Hope you still remember that,your fund of (USA)$800,000.00 which you left

here is still with us in this office and now we have submitted it to the

delivery company as instructed.

Contact delivery company------ Diamond Express Delivery Company.

Emails; diamondexpressdeliveryoff01@hotmail.com

Take note: you are mandated to contact and comply with this delivery

company immediately you receive this message to enable them deliver your

fund to you without further delay.

Regards.

BARR. BEN IBE.

FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER

WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

PHONE NUMBER;+229-93-21-97-72

THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 505)

Welcome to Western Union

Send Money Worldwide

HAVE A NICE DAY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam