419 scam: WESTERN UNION MONEY OFFICE <maria.tabares@berchmans.edu.co> URGENT MESSAGE!!

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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. )
- "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)
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.
- +2347053407642 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: "western.unionmoneypayout@w.cn" <western.unionmoneypayout@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:32:00 -0500
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE!!

--
I write to inform you that we have transferred USD$100,000 dollars.
I called to give you the information through
phone but we could not reach you even this
morning.So,I decided to email you the
MTCN and sender name so that you can pick
start cashing your money in USD5000.00 daily installment with the same
MTCN and sender's name which will be valid for
20 days until you cash the full $100,000.00usd
as it automatically activates for use for 20 days
after the first reactivation.

The money is available for pick up which was deposited
for transfer to you by one MR Bernard Harry from
BLACKBERRY MOBILE LOTTERY. The money is available
for pick up by receiver(you) but when you track it, it
will display PICKED UP due to the fact that it has been
deactivated from our head office for security reason
because it has stayed too long in the air as we have been trying
to reach you on the phone for some days now but it was not reachable,
so it was blocked. therefore you can not cash it out
in any western union office due to its restriction
from our head office,which was a security measure
because the money has been in the air for three days
now and maybe in danger, hence the mtcn has to be
reactivated to enable you cash out the money
in any western union office in your area, the
reactivation of the MTCN will cost you a token of $85,
once this is paid, our head office will release the fund on
hold to enable you cash it.To be sure of this please
log on to www.westernunion.com and click on track to
and enter the sender's info and mtcn below.

Sender's Fist name: Perry
Sender's Last Name: Poston
MTCN: 0256899063
Question: Who Is Great
Answer: God
Amount: $5000.00USD
Total Amount To be cashed:$100,000usd

With due respect please get back to me urgently after
tracking the money online so i can instruct you on how
to send the $85 to us for the reactivation of the MTCN.

Thanks
Best Regards
Mr.Phoenix Mcferrin.
+2347053407642
western union Office,
NIGERIA OFFICE.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam