419 scam: "Western Union Money Transfer"<prueba@panalseg.com.py> Re:: Your Western Union Payment

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "a_profiles@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "a_profiles@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22999816647 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <a_profiles0@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:59:18 -0400
Subject: Re:: Your Western Union Payment

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM THE DESK Of WESTERN UNION REMITTANCE DEPT
Our Ref : WUMT0XX2/987.
30/08/2012

Dear :
GOOD NEWS.
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of US$1.5 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03, at the owner of this EMAIL address . The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for the release of your money a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to you through Western Union instead of Courier services because there's many fake Courier company here so we don't trust any of them.

We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address,so we require some more information from you in order to complete this transfer as listed below:
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THIS E-MAIL.
a_profiles@yahoo.cn
Phone number +229-99 816 647
Contact Person : Mr. Eric Thevissen

Note : That this is not one of those Internet scams that all they are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you will not receive your funds and is directly from the Management of Western Union Money Transfer Benin Republic Head Office and our Motto is To SERVE YOU BETTER.
We will be sending you US$5,000 daily because to transfer the total money into your account will cost you big money for the transfer.

That is why UNITED NATION give us order to be sending you US$5,000 daily.
Contact us on our
E-mail : a_profiles@yahoo.cn
Phone number : +229-99 816 647
Director Name : Mr. Eric Thevissen

Also you would be receiving US$5,000 for each transfer that's how you will be receiving your $1.5M US$5,000 per transfer which we have complete the first transfer waiting for your information to release the MTCN to you.

BEST REGARDS,
Mrs. Michelle Sign. (303)

*************************************************************************************************************************
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“DISCLAIMER: This mail message may contain confidential and/or private information for the adressee. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, print, retransmit, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message by mistake, please advise the sender immediately replying this message and delete it from your computer and any database. Panal Compañía de Seguros Generales S.A. - Propiedad Cooperativa appreciates your cooperation".

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam