419 scam: "Payment@westernunion" <consultantfrontdesk@socialworker.net> Your payment status today/24-08-2011!

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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.
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.
- +229981248 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Payment@westernunion" <consultantfrontdesk@socialworker.net>
Reply-To: westeruniontransfer.dept@live.fr
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:02:23 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Your payment status today/24-08-2011!



WELCOME TO
WESTERN UNION
MONEY
TRANSFER

Western Union® Welcome to Western
Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455
AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
Telephone
+229-98-12-48=03

Attn; Beneficiary,

How are you today? I was calling your
phone through yesterday and you don't feel to carry my calls why, When you are
now atleast geting $5.000.00 to $10.000.00 thousand transfer payment
since yesterday and today because I later raise $100.00 to use help you cover up
the required $179.00 to enable you start receiveing your payment as from
tomorrow morning once this office open.

But I was calling you to inform
you that I want to help you with $100.00 while you pay balance of $79.00 but you
was not picking up my calls, Well you still have the opportunity to send this
$79.00 today. then i will help you complete it for you to get atleast one
transfer tomorrow if you send the money in time because our Bank here promise
send you another two payment tomorrow been Saturday before our closing
hours.

So, try as much as possible to see how you will send this balance
of $79.00 this afternoon with this given information,

RECEIVER NAME:    UGBANAGU
ORAEGBUNAM
COUNTRY:              BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:
COTONOU
QUESTION:            HOW LONG?
ANSWER:
24HOURS
AMOUNT:             $79.00

If you send $79.00 today, I
will help you with balance of $100.00 atleast you will get $5.000.00 transfer
tomorrow.that is my agreement with our department now. So run around and see
that you send the $79.00,this afternoon I knew the reason why I say this, I knew
it will help you alot to pay all the expense you have sofar, I
have done my best to help you out. So is your duty to complete the rest and
start receiveing your payment as from today or tomorrow morning if send
the money in time today.

(2)This is your payment tracking number and it is Available to
pick up by receiver but you can not pick it up as for now untill you send the
transfer charge before you can have full informations to pick up the $5.000.00
tomorrow ok. ENTER OUR WEBSITE WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM

Sender,s first Name== mike Oteega
Text Question..........How long

Answer..................Today
Mtcn....................... 2815-077-5583
Amount...................$5.000.00

Click tracking. and enter the MTCN 2815-077-5583 then sender name first
( john ) Sender Second name ( mike ) to see
that your payment is available to pick up by receiver but you cannot pick it
untill you send the $579.00 before we will give the full informations to pick up
immediately. Check status of the
transfer

I am waiting for the MTCN:
God bless you.

Mr, John Chi
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT
OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam