419 scam: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE <westernunion337@yahoo.cn> DO YOU SENT ANYONE TO CLAIM THE FUND ON YOUR BEHALF

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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 amount 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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "westernunion371@ymail.com" (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.
- +22964764031 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE <westernunion337@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunion817@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:03:12 +0800 (CST)
Subject: DO YOU SENT ANYONE TO CLAIM THE FUND ON YOUR BEHALF

Good Day:

How are you today? I am Dr david philip a delegate from the united nation office regrading of your Fund,your name and your email address is listed Three person to paid Win VICTIMS Compensation $2.7million Usd each and your Name and your mail address is listed approved to pay the Compensation fund,Mr Larry Martin said you have sent him to claim the fund as next of kins and He forwarded us address below to send the fund $2.7million usd on your behalf? are you where of that?

1121 Odena RD Sylacauga,
AL - Florida 35150
1-296-080-6501

And we are not so sure about this so that is why i am writing to know if this is true or not.edited in this transfer is $2.7million usd and is a huge amount of money and this man is getting us confusing on what he is saying.We wish to inform you that United Nation and the (ECOWAS) have instructed us to send you the sum of $2.7million USD.from your winning VICTIMS Compensation fund,$5000 dollar will sent to you twice daily $10,000 dollar through western union office as first collection of which you will be recovering every day until the total sum of $2.7million usd is completely transfer to you.

This is the final notice you are going to receive the payment from western union office, do you get me? I hope you understand how many times this message has been sent to you or are you not ready to recieve your fund? Which have been mapped to your name today,moreover reconfirm your information below to the western union office for the pick up your payment $5000 dollar $10,000 dollar daily without delay,call at this Tel:+: +229-64764031Agent western Union (Dr david philip)

Reply To This Email: ( westernunion371@ymail.com )
Tel:+:+229_64764031
Preferred Payment Method

As result of the information we got I told them to wait until I hear from you today or tomorrow,to know if you are still interested or not to receive this fund.lets release your full MTCN of your $5000 installment once we confirm your informations as soon as you receive this message response.

FULL NAME:........
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:.........
YOUR COUNTRY:.....................
MOBILE PHONENUMBER:............
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:......

Western Union Agent
Dr david philip

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam