419 scam: "Dianna Lawson"<westernunion@westernunion.org> Your Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN) 3090365458 (Pending)

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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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22998644349 (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_union270@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dianna Lawson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_union270@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:19:28 -0700
Subject: Your Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN) 3090365458 (Pending)

Head Ofiice: 22 Kashe Way
Cotonou, Bnenin Head Ofiice: 22 Kashe Way
Cotonou, Bnenin Republic .
WesternUnion WorldWide
Email: western_union270@rediffmail.com
Phone: +229 98644349

Attention beneficiary,

Please be informed that the funds are coming directly from the International
monetary Funds headquarters in west Africa, it's a Grand Donation from the United
Nations to support individuals financially due to the global and financial
economic meltdown so your email address was selected globally as one of the
beneficiaries this year and we are only to pay beneficiaries once they meet their
financial obligations.

Due to you not picking the funds on time we have to pull back the funds until you
were notified about the payment sent to you. Western Union is not allowed to make
all payment at once to individuals without proper identification via western union
money transfer for security reasons, so you have to make a payment of $77 USD for
obtaining Western Union Promo Code and activate your western union account before
the funds can come in from western union,

You can withdraw all your funds in just 5min and do not get the doubt in mind
about this and as soon as payment made and confirmed your account will be setup
and details of Western Union Promo Code will be sent to you with certificate of
ownership sent to you and put your name as the receiver ( bearer ) of the funds on
how to pick up the money from the western union office in your country and you
have to make the payment of $77 USD for the Western Union Promo Code before the
money can come in at any Branch Bank that have Western Union counter over there.

Upon receipt of the fee for the purchasing of your international Western Union
Promo Code, you are receiving your pay-out of $1,500,0.0000USD.

Enclosed you find details of funds that was sent to you today but still pending
until you have remitted the stated fee.

Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN) 3090365458 (Pending)

Sender First Name: Augustine
Sender Last Name: Emeka
Test Question: Payment Center
Test Answer: Western Union
Expected Amount: $5,000.00 USD

Above are details of your money transfer of $5,000.00 USD made on your behalf but
it has no receiver's name yet until you remit the required $77.00 to us before we
can purchase the Western Union Promo Code with your name and put your name as the
receiver.

Below is the information you will use to send us the fee of $77.00 Via western
union to our account officer Mr. Innocent Ananti

Receivers name======Ananti Innocent
City/ Cotonou
Country========= Benin Republic
Text Question===== IN GOD
Answer===== WE TRUST
Amount sent=====
MTCN ============
Senders name=====

Then after you send the money you can send the payment information to my email
below.
Mr. John Lawson
E-Mail: ( western_union270@rediffmail.com )
Call once you made the payment of $77 : +229 98644349

As soon as we receive the payment of the $77.00 from you. We will put your name as
the receiver of the above details under 3hours and notidy you so will go to any
western union and pick up the ($5000) you are to fill in the details below for
sending payment to you as soon as the Western Union Promo Code setup.

NAME:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
CITY:
ADDRESS:
TEST QUESTION: { optional }
ANSWER: { optional }

You can also go unto our website @
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ and track your
transfer and see that your money is there but needed the above stated fee to
redirect the transfer to you for your easy pick up. Note that after 72hrs if you
do not remit the required $77.00usd, funds which has already been made ($5.000.00
USD ) It will be withdrawn back and remember that the money details given to you
does not bear your name as the receiver until you make the payment of the $77.00

Get back to me via E-Mail:( western_union270@rediffmail.com) with the payment
information once the payment is been done and you can contact me on my direct line
if you have any question. Call for confirmation of receipt of this message on
00229 98644349

Have a good day.

Regards,
Dr. Mrs Dianna Lawson (ESQ)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam