419 scam: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com> THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUND FROM A NEW DIRECTOR OF THE (WUMT) 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:

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. )
- "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.
- +22999337628 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22968433938 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com>
Reply-To: westernu828@yahoo.com.dk
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 13:47:01 -0400
Subject: THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUND FROM A NEW DIRECTOR OF THE (WUMT) DEPARTMENT

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: +229 6843 3938
EMAIL: westernu828@yahoo.com.dk
WEB WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM

DEAR CUSTOMER,

FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELDWITH THE FBI, UNITED NATION, BOARD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION ANDFEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURSGIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM THE TOTAL FUNDSWHICH IS (2.5 M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THISPAYMENT, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOUHAVE FOR THE FEES SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIREDSUM. OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATION/DEALINGWITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ON WORLDWIDE.ANY BANKSTHAT ARE CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE IS FAKE. PLEASE VIEWOUR WEBSITE NOW:WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.

THEREFORE GO STRAIGHT NOW AND PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THEFEES TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THEMANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OFYOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THISMEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE USWITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL THE TRANSFER TO YOU AND REDIRECT YOUR FUNDTO THEGOVERNMENT.

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 IT UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE
DEMAND FEE WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW
SERIOUS YOU ARE.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country
1. SENDER FIRST NAME....SAHRIR
2. SENDER SECOND NAME...SAAD
3. TEST QUESTION...FROM ME
4. TEST ANSWER.....TO YOU
5. AMOUNT ..........$5,000 USD
6. MTCN...........9167653719 (Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENTWITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY24 HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCEYOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USETO SEND WHATEVERYOU HAVE TOENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

1. RECEIVER NAME...EMMA OCHIE
2. COUNTRY... BENIN REPUBLIC
3. CITY... COTONOU.
4. TEST QUESTION...WHAT COLOR?
5. TEST ANSWER...WHITE.
6. AMOUNT ............ANY

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELYWE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $5000TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW. MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229 9933 7628 DR.HENRY EGO MAKA ALSON FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENINREPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT
DR. HENRY EGO MAKA ALSON
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.
EMAIL: westernu828@yahoo.com.dk
TELEPHONE NUMBER: +229 6843 3938

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam