419 scam: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER"<payout@westernunion.com> $7,600.00USD DAILY PAY-OUT FOR YOU

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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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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 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.
- wumt_access13@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wumt_access13@yahoo.it>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:00:27 +0100
Subject: $7,600.00USD DAILY PAY-OUT FOR YOU

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
ITALY PAY-OUT CENTER

Dear Western Union Beneficiary,

UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.

We wish to inform you that the United Nations (UN) has authorized us to remit to you a total amount of $1,500,000.00 USD (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). This amount is to be paid to you because of the fact that you were selected as a beneficiary in the Last E-mail ballot promotion Held in Malaysia, by the United Nations. This promotion is inline with the Social responsibility of the United Nations Organization, which is held once Every year to change the living status of five (5) lives around the Globe. This year you have been chosen along side Four (4) other lucky people randomly. On behalf of the United Nations Organization and Western Union, we wish to congratulate you formally.

Your Cash prize was paid out to us by the United Nations, and they have successfully succeeded in depositing your whole funds with us Here at Western Union Italy. They have now ordered us to take full responsibility in the transfer process of your funds and thus commence the immediate remittance of your funds to you. Be duly informed that because of our Western Union transfer policy, your funds will be paid to you via our Western Union Daily Transfer limit of $7,600.00 USD. This means that you will Continuously receive a daily amount of $7,600.00 USD from us, and this amount Can be collected from any of our numerous Western Union outlets in your current location.

To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to provide us with; Your Full Name, Address, and Phone Number. Upon receipt of the Requested details, your first transaction will be activated and we shall then Proceed to provide you with the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for the First installment and we will continue to email you others after 24 hours of Receiving each payment.

For more information on your payment status;

E-mail Mr.Alberto Bonucci @ wumt_access13@yahoo.it

OR call our 24 hours Helpline @ +39 340 310 7827 for any inquiries on the above message.

Yours truly,

Miss. Bruna Rossi
For: Western Union Italy.

WESTERN UNION... Over 380,000 Outlets Worldwide.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam