419 scam: "Western Union"<info@wu.com> From Western Union Money Transfer: Office In charge Of Your Fund. July 2012

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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. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2347029730504 (Nigeria, 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.
- wu_center0@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu_center0@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:54:20 -0500
Subject: From Western Union Money Transfer: Office In charge Of Your Fund. July 2012

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

MFB SATELITE -OBALENDE BRANCH

SATELITE MICROFINANCE BANK

21A OBALENDE ROAD, SOUTH WEST

IKOYI, LAGOS NIGERIA

>From Western Union Money Transfer: Office In charge Of Your Fund. July 2012

This is to bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money Transaction originated from any part of African/ Europe and Asia counties etc. as Contract payment, Fund inheritance or Lottery Winning, ATM Debit cards, henceforth commercial banks, Security Companies, ATM Credit and Debit Union including any offshore payment centers are no more authorized to handle release of funds due to

Unauthorized/incapability of financial Institutions/security companies In releasing such huge sum of money due to Fraud, terrorist and money Laundry activities going on world wide.

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your payment total sum of $1.5 Million,via western union by this

Government.

Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the $5000.00 and call me back to send you another payment today, My direct phone line is; +234 702 973 0504 , payment officer Mr. Lyd NkumeBrown Email: (wu_center0@yahoo.co.jp) call or email me once you picked up this $5000.00 today. Here is the western union information to pick up the Money;

SENDER'S NAME: KENNETH WASHINGTON

MTCN: 884 371 1108

AMOUNT:$5,000.00 US DOLLARS

TEXT QUESTION:WHAT COLOUR

TEXT ANWSER:RED

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00,Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.

Thanks

Mr. Lyd Brown

Payment Officer Western Union

Lagos Nigeria

Direct Contact Email: wu_center0@yahoo.co.jp

Tel:+234 702 973 0504

www.westernunion.co.uk

Western Union®

Welcome to Western Union

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam