419 scam: WESTERN UNION <y.servicse@yahoo.com.ph> YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22999076221 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- wudepbenin@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <y.servicse@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: wudepbenin@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:01:42 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED

Welcome to the Western Union Payment Center . We wish to inform you that your Payment of US$1.500,000.00 USD after Due Deliberation on your Payment File with the Senate Committee on foreign Debts has concluded to affect your payments through Western Union Payment office. The Federal Ministry of Finance - Benin Republic have approved that you will receive $5,000 USD daily until your $1.500,000.00 is completely transferred to you accordingly. your payment file has been submitted to the Benin Consulate for screening and all data have being confirmed correct to pay you a total sum of US$1.500,000.00 USD as a result overdue Inheritance Funds Compensation Funds / unclaimed Lottery Winning funds. We have been advised to send you $5,000 USD every day because Western Union laws here in Benin Republic can only transfer a maximum of $5,000 USD in one transaction.

We are happy to inform you that your first payment of US$ 5,000 USD has been forwarded by the Federal Ministry of Finance as below with (MTCN: 2933450361) and the payment will be released to you 15 Minutes after the payment activation fee have been received. For your convenience check the status of your first $5,000.00 installment transfer online through our Official Website (www.westernunion.com). Log in, the click "TRACKING" and fill the below information to understand that your Payment is already available for pickup but not yet posted to your country.

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 9788593788
Sender First Name: Eija
Sender Last Name: Mantymaki
TEXT QUESTION: WHEN
ANSWER: SOON
AMOUNT: $5,000.00 USD

We have transferred today your first US$5,000.00 available for your pickup at any western union office in your City, but still on hold here in our office due to the unpaid activation fee of $48 USD which you were supposed to pay before your transfer will be posted to your country for pickup. You can easily get back to us via this email (wudepbenin@yahoo.com.hk) after sending the activation fee $48 USD to enable us release your transfer in next 15 Minutes; this is the only fee you will pay for your Payment file to be activated to start receiving your daily payments of $5,000.00 USD uninterrupted.

NOTE: WE HAVE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE ACTIVATION FEE $48 USD FROM YOUR FUNDS BUT THE ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN STATED THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO AMOUNT SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING, CRIMINAL ACT AND FOR SECURITY REASONS HENCE TO RELEASE YOUR PAYMENTS IN THE NEXT 15 MINUTES, SEND THE ACTIVATION $48 USD THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW.

1. RECEIVER NAME:........KENNETH UDALOR.
2. COUNTRY:................. BENIN REPUBLIC .
3. CITY :................... COTONOU .
4. TEST QUESTION:.............IN GOD
5. TEST ANSWER:..............WE TRUST
6.AMOUNT:...................$ 48, USD
7.MTCN NUMBER...................

As soon as you transfer the activation fee by western Union to the above agent, For facilitated response send the transfer MTCN to our email (wudepbenin@yahoo.com.hk) or Call Mr. David E Judelson at (+229 9907-6221) to enable us receive and proceed with immediate transfer release of your Transferred $5,000 US today.

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED

THANK YOU AS WE WAIT URGENTLY TO RECEIVE IT.

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
YOURS FAITHFULLY
HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
MR DAVID JUDELSON
MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam