419 scam: "WU"<westernunion123@earthlink.net> MTCN 9894382611 AVALIABLE FOR PICK UP BY Receivers.$

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "abuja" (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.
- +2347080153874 (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.
- w_union190@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "WU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w_union190@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2015 11:45:21 -0600
Subject: MTCN 9894382611 AVALIABLE FOR PICK UP BY Receivers.$

Attention Dear;

This is to inform you that the America
Embassy office was instructed to transfer your fund
$90,000.00. U.S Dollars 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 between today till 24thOf December 2014you
will be receiving the sum of $7,000 dollars per day. However
be informed that we have already sent the $7,000 dollars
this morning to avoid cancellation of your payment, remain
the total sum of $90,000.00.United States Dollar

You have only six hours to call this
office upon the receipt of this email the maximum amount you
will be receiving per a day starting from today is $7,000 in
three different payments and the Money Transfer Control
Number of today is below. NOTE; The send $7,000 is on hold
because of the instruction from IMF office, they asked us to
place it on hold by requesting the clearance certificate in
order to fulfill all the necessary obligation so that we
will start sending you the payment through Western Union
money transfer, the necessary obligation i mean here is to
obtain the clearance certificate.

Below is the information of today
track it in our website www.westernunion.com to see is
available to pick up by the receiver.

(M.T.C.N) Money Transfer Control Number: 9894382611
Sender?s First Name: Peggy
Sender?s Last Name: Beise
Text Question: Faith?
Answer: Love
Amount Programmed: $5,500.00

we need the below details from you, to
enable us place the payment to your name and transfer the
fund to you.

(Full Receivers name)........................
(Your Country).................................
(Address)........................................
(Phone Number)...............................
(Your Age).......................................
(OCCUPATION )....................
A COPY OF YOUR ID
PICTURE....................

You are advice you submit the clearance certificate fee bellow to this name.

Receivers Name: Obi Patrick.
Address: 4989 gibson tower. Abuja, Nigeria
Amount: $250
Text Question: COLOR?
Answer: YELLOW.

Further more you advised to call us as
the instruction was passed that within 6 hours without
hearing from you, Count your payment canceled. Number to
call is below listed manager director office of release

order:+2347080153874

(w_union190@yahoo.co.jp)
Thanks sir Try James

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam