419 scam: WESTERN UNION <uwester4@msn.com> NEW YEAR BONUS WESTERN UNION PAYMENT DETAILS.

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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. )
- "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)
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.
- +22998903320 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22999772900 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <uwester4@msn.com>
Reply-To: <westernuion0@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:11:14 +0000
Subject: NEW YEAR BONUS WESTERN UNION PAYMENT DETAILS.

Vital Finance Institution
Address:Rue 225 Akpaka Express Road ,
Porto-Novo layout Benin.
Phone 00229-9890-3320
Fax: 00229 99772900
www.westernunion.com

REF: TRANSFER DETAIL OF ($900,000.00 USD)

Attention: My Dear Customers

We are here to informed you that we are doing New year bonus in this honorable western union office.And in the light of above,I am here to notify you that we are ready to start sending you your daily payment of $4,500.00 until your total fund of $900,000.00 are final transfer to you,

Note:All the necessary fee requested by the Headquarter has been paid this morning by the same INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (I.M.F)And there are (three) Document as they secure on your behalf which you may even tender to any authority in your country that may ask any question concerning the source of your fund. Meanwhile the only money you are required to send to this western union office immediately is $45,just to activate your file and to transfer your fund.

Be it known to you that this bonus will end by 30th of this mouth. As it stand now,I advise you to goes ahead and send the $45,00 as quickly as you receive this message to enable this honorable western union office made successful transfer into your name today,

Make the payment below to this name but be rest assured that we will transfer your fund today,And if we mistakenly fail to do as instructed by the (I.M.F),this western union office branch will be persecuted according to the law.²

Here is the info.

RECEIVER NAME::::::::UDEALOR RAPULUCHUKWU.
COUNTRY::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY::::::::COTONOU.
QUESTION::::::::Thanks?
ANSWER::::::::Be to GOD.
AMOUNT::::::::$45.00

GET BACK TO US AFTER THE PAYMENT:

MTCN .........
YOUR SENDER NAME..........
YOUR SENDER TELEPHONE NUMBER...
YOUR SENDER CITY............

CALL US 00 22 99 890 33 20
REGARDS
MR.ISAAC WEST ,
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam