419 scam: Western Union <western_union_m-t@w.cn> Transfer Canclled

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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. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <western_union_m-t@w.cn>
Reply-To: wumtbureau@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:26:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Transfer Canclled

Office of the Operation Manager
Western Union Payment Center.
Head Office, Herbert Macaulay Way,
Wusih Zone 6, Porto-Novo FCT.

24 hours banking service. Please reflect on the time difference in Africa if contacting us from overseas.

Dear Customer,

I am giving you this light for you to know it before hand. Do not say I did not inform you.

A message came over to this Western Union Money Transfer administrative center as an instruction to cancel your payment with our Western Union Money Transfer and this was as a result of your inability to pay the fee for the warrantee document.

This morning, I went ahead to pick up the $3000 which was sent already, since you are not interested to receive the funds transfer. I told you to pay the cost of purchasing the Warranty Document but you find it very difficult to work on my advice.

You can now check from our Western Union Money Transfer System and see that the money is now picked up. It shall only be sent back to your name and country after you pay the $85 for the Warranty Document. Once you pay the cost of procuring the warrantee document, the Finance Minister will instruct an immediate transfer of the funds to you.

www.westernunion.com
MTCN: 7332414446
Sender First Name: michael
Sender Last Name: ateli

Now, click tracking;

If you can send the $85 cost of the Warranty Document, you shall receive the $3000 today without delay.

By this time on Friday, 22nd of April, 2011, your funds worth $850.000 shall be permanently cancelled and shall be sent back to the government reserve on Monday 24th April, 2011.

Finally, I give you the information below where you can send the $85 immediately if you are still interested to receive your funds.

CASHIER; Ateli Michael
Address; lot c, 281 Abomey way
City; Cotonou
Country; Benin
Amount; $85

Forward the MTCN & Sender Names & Country after sending the money.

Best Regards.

Mr. Dina` Nwunyeya
Operation Manager
Western Union

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam