419 scam: WESTERN UNION <diploimatfrankpatrick@yahoo.com> Attn Dear Customer,

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "required 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. )
- "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.
- +22996059839 (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.
- western_ub@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <diploimatfrankpatrick@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western_ubb@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:14:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attn Dear Customer,

Attn Dear Customer,

Good day, after the board meeting reconciliation program concerning your payments here in the western union program, It was agreed that the only money you are to pay is $57 Dollars for the updating of your files so that you can pick up your $5,000 USD within 3hrs from now and the balance of $45,000 USD within 3days which will be sent to your bank account. We are in the verge of conclusion of the files update which is the final process to enable us retrieve your files from the I.M.F which is the remaining information and the code with which you will use to receive your first payment of $5,000 USD from any western union stores close to you. Below is your payment.

information you can check your payment online to see that your money is yet to be activated,

MTCN: 4249351819
Sender: Earl Fariss
Question: Best Color
Answer: Yellow
Amount: $5,000

You can check the availability of this payment to see the transfer is yet to be update: https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp? country=global Note that this transfer has not yet been updated so you can not pick up this money. Your file will be retrieved with $57.00 as it is a flat rate reconciliation program fee.

SEND THE REQUIRED FEE TO THIS INFO.

RECEIVER: Stephen Anago
ADDRESS: COTONOU / BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION:Trust
ANSWER:God
Amnout 57

The moment you do that, write out the payment info written on the payment slip then forward it back to us which will enable in confirming the payment you sent such as,

MTCN#
SENDER'S NAME
SENDER'S ADDRESS
AMOUNT

As soon as we confirm the fee today, we will immediately activate your payments and notify you back then you will now
pick up your first $5,000 within 2hours as stated. Please note that you need to go along with your passport ID or Drivers license when you need to pick up the transfer okay.

My Regards,
Earl Farris
CALL +22996059839
Email western_ub@yahoo.com.hk
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam