419 scam: Western Union <offi------3@att.net> WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT

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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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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.
- +22966567551 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <offi------3@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunion00b@globomail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 09:12:48 -0800 (PST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT

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WESTERN
UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT

REPUBLIC OF BENIN. 98 POLICE OFFICE COTONOU
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR
PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-66567551

Attention: Beneficiary,

Please be informed that the funds are
coming directly from the International Monetary Funds headquarters and we are
only to pay beneficiaries once they meet their financial
obligations.

Also note that Western Union is not allowed to make all
payment at once via western union money transfer due to the way the fund came to
our headquarters and for security reasons, upon receipt of your fees and your
International Remittance File purchased, you are receiving a first pay-out of
$10,000 which is made into two halves which will enable you walk into any
Western Union office of your choice and pick up your funds. Note that the
remaining fund/payment will be made installmentally in the following
order:

1. $10,000 made payable to you from the Western Union
2.
$740,000 made payable to you via bank wire transfer from our designated paying
bank.

Upon receipt of the fee for the purchasing of your international
remittance file, you are receiving your first pay-out of
$10,000.00usd

According to the Section 636(1) of the LPN CAF of the 1999
constitution regarding a contract like you will have to make the payment of the
$69 usd so as to enable the purchasing of your inheritance file to prevent
illegal transfer of your funds or any form of hindrance.

Here are
details of your money transfer of $10,000 made on your behalf but it has no
receiver's name yet until you remit the $69.00 to us before we can purchase the
inheritance file with your name and put your name as the receiver below is the
information you will use to send us the fee $69.00 Via western union. or Money
Gram:

RECEIVER NAME---------------------CHUKWUEMEKA
MARCEL
COUNTRY-------------------------------REPUBLIC OF
BENIN
CITY ---------------------------------COTONOU
TEXT
QUESTION --------------------CODE
ANSWER ------------------------------
001
SUM-------------------------------------
$79.00

Then after you send the money you can send the payment
information to
our email below.

Contact Name: Mr. Williams Setlla

Contact Direct line: +229-66567551

As soon as we receive the
payment of the $69.00 from you then we pick it up we well put your name as the
receive and you will go to western union and pick the money.So you are to
re-confirm to them the below information once you send this
$69.00.

Receiver
name....................
Country..............................

City......................................
Home
address......................
Tell
no..................................

Here Is The Senders
Information!!!

Amount: $5,000 USD
MTCN:
785-638-7884

You can log onto our website www.westernunion.com and track your transfer and
see that your money is there but needed the above stated fee to redirect the
transfer to you for your easy pick up. Note that within 72hrs if you do not
remit the required $ 69.00 which has already been made ($10,000) It will be
withdrawn back and remember that the money details given to you does not bear
your name as the receiver until you make the payment of the $69.00

Get
back to us with the payment information one you made the payment and you can
call on my direct line if you have any question OK.

Call for confirmation
of receipt of this message on : +229-98123964 Have a good day.

Regards,
Williams Setlla

Western Union
Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam