419 scam: "Mr. Joe Watson" <westernunion45@yahoo.cn> FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

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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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
- +22999882965 (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.
- westernuniontransfer128@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Joe Watson" <westernunion45@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernuniontransfer128@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:20:26 +0800 (CST)
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFERWORLDWIDE:
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU
FROM
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD,COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE :+22999882965
EMAIL:
westernuniontransfer128@yahoo.es

WEB WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
DEAR CUSTOMER,
FOLLOW UP THE
INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED
NATION, BOARD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY
FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF
$5,000 USD FROM THE TOTAL FUNDS WHICH IS ($4.9M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT
DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY
THIS $75 USD YOU HAVE FOR THE FEES SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE
REQUIRED SUMOF $250. OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER
COMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ON
WORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE IS FAKE.PLEASE VIEW
OUR WEBSITE NOW :WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.
THEREFORE GO STRAIGHT NOW AND PAY THE
AMOUNT YOU HAVE SEE THE FEES TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON
HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM
OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS
MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO
OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE
SUM.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY
THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE DEMAND
WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE SEE , JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU
ARE.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ
1.SENDER
NAME:... Emmanuel Chukwuemeka
2.TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST
ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ..........$5,000 USD
5.MTCN.....
1536432755
(Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED
AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 24HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE
CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN
ORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND
THE MONEY YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT
IMMEDIATELY.

1.RECEIVER NAME:......PETER ANI
2.COUNTRY:.............
BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4..TEST QUESTION:.....HOW
MUCH?
5.TEST ANSWER:......ANY.
6.AMOUNT ...........ANY
7.SENDERS
NAME.....
8.AMOUNT SENT....$75
9.MTCN.....
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER
IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE
WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $5,000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW REGARDS MY DIRECT
PHONE LINE IS +229
998-829-65 MR  JOE WATSON
FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR
PAYMENT
MR  JOE WATSON
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.
VITAL FINANCE

WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
EMAIL: westernuniontransfer128@yahoo.es
TELEPHONE
NUMBER:+229 998-829-65

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam