419 scam: western union <www.union101@ok.ms> (DEAD) or (ALIVE)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- +22998644826 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: western union <www.union101@ok.ms>
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:46:04 +0100
Subject: (DEAD) or (ALIVE)

TELFAX (+229) 98644826
E-mail: dhl_c_c_249@live.com

Attention: Customer,

I am writing to confirm the fact if you are (DEAD) or (ALIVE) and failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Rev JudeBetsy said was right that you are dead. Rev Jude Betsy has agreed to pay the needed charge fee valued of $79.00dollars required for the Bond Stamp Duty Fee of your consignment box , but we have not gotten the money from him yet as we want to find out if you are DEAD or not, so if you are still (ALIVE) you are advice in your own best interest to reply back,

The only money you will pay to our office here is just $79.00 for the paper works, Take note of this now, so we can stop further communication with Rev Jude Betsy and deliver the (Consignment Box) to your door step being the original benefactor of the $2.5 Million US Dollars.

BELOW IS THE PAYMENT INFOMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $79.00 TO OUR CASHIER

Receivers Name===== Mr.OBALIMU LOWRENCE AGBUDU
Country============Benin Republic
City===============Cotonou
Text question=======Best Colour?
Text answers======= Yellow
Amount============$79.00usd
MTCN Number=======?
You must send us the details provided by Western Union immediately you made the payment of $79.00usd.

Senders Name=======
Sender Address======
Sender Country======
MTCN==============

Beside if you fail to comply with the needed $79.00 Dollars required there’s no way we can deliver the consignment box to your country.

Looking forward to hear from you if you are still ALIVE, reply back for fast action so that your delivery will commence upon receipt of your payment.

Best Regards,
Dr.F. Henry
DHL COURIER SERVICE.
COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
TEL/FAX ( +229) 98644826

Address: 12/1 Midombo Expway Cotonou-Benin
E-mail:( dhl_c_c_249@live.com )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam