419 scam: "Western Union" <officefile191@yahoo.com> FROM OFFICE OF WESTERN UNIONWESTERN UNION

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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. )
- ",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)
- "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 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.
- officewesternunion758@yahoo.com.vn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" <officefile191@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: officewesternunion758@yahoo.com.vn
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:29:10 +0100 (CET)
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF WESTERN UNIONWESTERN UNION

Western Union Send Money Worldwide
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer office Cotonou Benin.
ADDRES: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.
Website: http://www.westernunion.com
officewesternunion758@yahoo.com.vn

Dear Costumer Email alert:

This is to inform you that the America Embassy here in Benin in
conjunction with Global Economic Recovery programs (GERP) USA and Economic
Community of West-African States has instructed to transfer the sum of
USD$10,500,000.00 compensating all the SCAM VICTIMS and your email was
found as one of the VICTIMS. by America security leading team and America
representative officers so for your information the maximum amount you
will be receiving started from tomorrow is $5000 USD till your total funds
of USD$10,500,000.00 USD is complete transferred to you and we have been
strongly to send you the first payment of $5000USD today through our
payment system here before we find out that your payment file need to
renew from world Bank central system.

And we listed bellow for your first payment of $5000usd been sent in your
name today morning but you will not pickup the money unless you send the
fee of US$75.00 require to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System here in Cotonou, Republic Benin.
Bellow is your first payment for $5000usd sent today.

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C..N):# 1007960069
Sender Henry Nwora
Amount Transferred: $5000
Text Question: What For?
Answer: My Payment
Status : Available for pick up by receiver

So if you want to track the money and confirm if the funds is transferred
enter our website
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global then
click tracking and enter the mtcn number:...1007960069 Enter senders first
name:..... HENRY ..... Enter senders last name:..... NWORA and click
tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to pick
it up..

finally urgent in sending us the $75.00usd to enable us proceed on
reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central SYSTEM .Send the
fee directly with the name as outline below use it to send the money via
western union to enable us pick it from our department here and reconfirm
your payment file approval from the world Bank central and commerce your
daily payment immediately.

we also repeat again, you will not pickup the money unless you send the
fee of US$75 require to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System in Benin Republic. So if you would
prefer to start receiving your payment first thing tomorrow in the morning
hurry up and send the renew and reconfirmation of your payment file fees
$75usd with bellow information via western union money transfer service.

Reciever Name: OBALIMU UBAH
Country: Benin Republic,
City: Cotonou
Text Question: Very Urgent?
Answer: Today.
Amount: $75 usd
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) is needed and sender's name

Finally Notice: This payment you are receiving is coming directly from
World Bank assistance programmable 2012 promo, so its risk free and we the
western union headquarters has agree to start sending you the payment
immediately you meet up with our demand in this latter.But after 2days you
did not reply stand the risk of cancel your payment and have it return
back to government

Yours respectfully,
ALEX PETER
DIRECTOR Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam