419 scam: "WESTERN UNION"<moneytransfer@westernunion.com> PAYMENT INFORMATION

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "westenunion.moneytransfer@administrativos.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westenunion.moneytransfer@administrativos.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 08:24:45 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATION

WESTERN UNION?SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE
(c) 2010 MICROWESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER?
INSTALMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE
Website: www.westernunion.com
Western Union Installment Payments Only.
Attn: Beneficiary,

We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation
Center, In conjunction with Federal Ministry of Finance United kingdom London, Western union
Agent London with the Uk Lottery Organization has approved the payment sum of £ 1.5 Million
GBP (One Million Five hundred thousand Great Britain pounds) as a Dept Reconciliation
Payments, for your Winning funds with Compensation Head office, deposited by the Uk Lottery
Organization for payment to you as the Winning owner/Beneficiary of the amount
£1.5, 000.000.00 GBP

After the Law Enforcement judgment between the Uk Lottery Organization Agent Mr. Goldman
Smith and Compensation finance head office, the meeting was held on the 29th of March
2011, with the aforementioned office and banks, The Concluded arrangement was appointed at our
Office (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid Winning fund through western union
Electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make
Your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.

The Management of the Uk Lottery Organization Head Branch here in UK have submitted your
Name, city and country information's to our office for endorsement & daily activation of
Your payment which has been programmed to be transferred under installment at rate of £10,000
GBP daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above £10,000 GBP at
Once from this country to another, but will be sending under installment of £10,000GBP daily
Till the amount is completely paid. In other words. We have today transferred your first
Installment payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you,

Payment Details:
You will Track the payment here on: www.westernunion.com
Sender First Name =samson
Sender Second name =abal
MTCN=64812XXXXX

Contact MR Bruce Haines,email:westenunion.moneytransfer@administrativos.com to give you the text question and answer also with the remaining number on your MTCN marked with xxx for security reasons.
£10, 000 GBP has been sent in your name today. Contact MR BRUCE HAINES, tell him to give you the complete (MTCN) number which will be use to receive your first payment of £10, 000 GBP at any western union office nearest to you.
Reconfirm your payment receiver's name and address to avoid any mistake of payment activation

Reconfirm the information as given to you below.
Receiver's Name:........
Receiver's address:..........
Receiver's Tel. Number:...........

You will pay endorsement & daily activation fee amount of
£55.00 GBP before your daily transfer will be made available to you daily

We anticipate your kind co-operation.
Thanks for Using Western Union Office
Sincerely Regards,
Mr. Bruce Haines
Payment Department
Western union money transfer (London,Uk branch)
Website: www.westernunion.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam