419 scam: "Nicodemus Onye" <filleoffice91@yahoo.com.vn> Western union department ;

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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. )
- "moneygram" (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 us 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)
- "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)
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +2348064843891 (Nigeria, 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.
- westerrn.union001@yahoo.com.vn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Nicodemus Onye" <filleoffice91@yahoo.com.vn> (may be fake)
Reply-To: westerrn.union001@yahoo.com.vn
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:25:09 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Western union department ;

Attention,
After proper and several investigations and research at Western Union and
MoneyGram Office, we found your name in Western Union database amongst
those
that have sent money through Western Union to Nigeria and this proves that
you have truly been swindled by those unscrupulous persons by sending
money
to them through Western Union/MoneyGram in the course of getting one fund
or the other that is not real, right now we are working hand in hand with
Western Union to track every fraudsters down, do not respond to their
e-mails, letters and phone calls any longer as they are scammers and you
should be very careful to avoid being a victim to fraudsters any longer
because they have nothing to offer you but to rip-off what you have worked
earnestly hard to earn.

In this regard a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and as a consequence of
our
investigations it was agreed that the sum of six Hundred Thousand US
Dollars (US$1,600,000.00) should be transferred to you out of the funds
that Federal
Government of Nigeria has set aside as a compensation to everyone who have
by one way or the other sent money to fraudsters in Nigeria.
***Please note that we will no longer be liable for any loss, cost or
expense whatsoever, suffered or incurred by You in connection with the
fraudsters. Be warned! We have deposited your fund at Western Union Money
Transfer agent location
EMS Post office Lagos, Nigeria.We have submitted your details to them so
that your fund can be transferred
to you. We have insured your fund to avoid misappropriation.
Contact the Western Union agent office through any of the email addresses
stated below;
westerrn.union001@yahoo.com.vn
+23480 64843891
Yours sincerely,
Nicodemus Onye
Investigation Officer.
****************************************************************************
**************************************
Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently been made
to unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their
funds.
Everyday, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams of one
way or the other. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery win, or
a
chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment programm .
In the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate yourself
from all
correspondence and transactions entered into based on evidently fraudulent
and fictitious claims.
****************************************************************************
**************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam