419 scam: "Western Union Money Transfer" <wumtbureaus@centrum.sk> YOUR BANK DRAFT

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- wilsonbolaji462@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer" <wumtbureaus@centrum.sk>
Reply-To: wilsonbolaji462@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:24:52 -0400
Subject: YOUR BANK DRAFT

Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail
meets you in a perfect condition. You may not understand why this mail came to
you. But if you do not remember me, you might have receive an email from me in
the past regarding a business proposal which we never concluded.

I am happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred
under cooperation of a new partner from Dominican Republic. Presently I'm in
Dominican Republic for investment projects with my own share of the total sum
meanwhile,I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary in Benin rep Africa, his name is Mr. Wilson Bolaji
E-Mail :wilsonbolaji462@yahoo.fr
Phone number;+22999882965

Ask him to send you the total cash check of $1.2 million United State dollars
which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempt to
assist me in this matter. I appreciated your collective efforts at that time
so feel free and get in touch with my secretary Mr. Wilson Bolaji and instruct
him where to send the amount to you. Do it fast before the CASH CHECK EXPIRED.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy
after all the sufferings at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here in
Dominican Republic because of the investment projects which I and the new
partner are having at hand without confrontations,

Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to the secretary on your
behalf to receive that CASH CHECK, so feel free to get in touch with Mr.
Wilson Bolaji my secretary he will send the CHECK to you without any delay.

MR.DON WOOD.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam