419 scam: "Mrs. Kate Bruno" <mrskatebruno1@gmail.com> Your Payment Via Western Union

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22999172795 (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.
- western702union@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Kate Bruno" <mrskatebruno1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western702union@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2012 09:43:13 -0500
Subject: Your Payment Via Western Union

Attention: Beneficiary

Your fund of One Million Five Hundred thousand usd.(1.500,000.00USD) has been
forwarded to Wester Union for immediate transfer to you Your payment will be
sent to you by western Union, the amount you will receive per day is $5,000.00
( Five thousand Dollars )The Minister Trust Funds of Benin Republic will send
you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your ($5,000)
payment by western union, you will receive every day till you receive the
1.500,000.00 United State Dollars, now no need to send you this atm card
because you can not be able to withdraw with the atm card due to the atm
master card contain large money on it and is not activated too and many people
have received their fund through this western union which is safer and
reliable with less cost.The Director administrator trust funds have already
signed your payment,now you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on
this email:(western702union@hotmail.com) however, kindly contact the below
person who is in position to release your payment by Western Union per$5,000 a
day.

Sir John Ntepe, Western Union Department Benin,
Mobile:+229-99-17-2795 E-mail (western702union@hotmail.com) The Western Union
Payment Center has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to
stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) toavoid
any hitches in receiving your payment.Note that the administrator payment need
this details from you to process your payment:

Your full name________________________
Your address__________________________
Your country___________________________
Your age______________________________
Your occupation________________________
Your Phone number______________________

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Sir John
Ntepe, he will start sending your payment by Western Union.And do let me know
immediately you start receiving your money for us to share the joy together.

Regards,
Mrs. Kate Bruno

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam