419 scam: "WESTERN UNION MONEY OFFICE" <info@mail.com> Payment Was Sent!!

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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. )
- "western_unionoffic11@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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 MONEY OFFICE" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: western_unionoffic11@w.cn
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:13:17 -0700
Subject: Payment Was Sent!!

I write to inform you that we have been given the full authorization to transfer your USD$150,000 dollars.
We decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can start cashing your $5000.00USD daily with the same MTCN and sender's name which will be valid for 30 days until you cash the full $150,000.00usd as it is automatically activates for use for 30 days after the first reactivation.

The money available for pick up 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 do not have your correct phone number which would have be use to reach you, 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 $105,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: MWILA
Sender's Last Name: BWALYA
MTCN: 6161432320
Question: Who Is Great
Answer: God
Amount: $5000.00USD
Total Amount To be cashed:$150,000usd

With due respect please get back to me urgently after tracking the money online so i can instruct you on how to send the $105 to us for the reactivation of the MTCN.

Thanks
Best Regards
Mr.Phoenix Mcferrin.
western union Office,
NIGERIA OFFICE.
Western Union® Money Transfer
Email: western_unionoffic11@w.cn
Tel: +234802504634

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam