419 scam: "western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp" <western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp> Attention ,

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
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.
- +22994270351 (Benin, probably a 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.
- western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp" <western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:40:06 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention ,

Attention ,

I write to inform you that we have already sent you
$5000.00 US Dollars through Western union as we have
Been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation
Payment of $800,000 US Dollars via western union
by the Benin Republic Government and United Nation for this year 2015.

The money is available for pickup which was deposited
For transfer to you. The money is available
For pick up by receiver (you) but when you track it, it
Will display ERROR due to the fact that it has been
Deactivated from our head office for security reason
Because it has stayed too long on air as we have been trying To reach you on the phone for some days now but it was not reachable.

Therefore you cannot cash it out in any Western union office due to its restriction from our head office, which was a security measure because the money has Been in

the air for three days now and may be in danger.

Hence the mtcn has to be reactivated to enable you cash out The money in any western union office in your area, the Reactivation of the MTCN will cost you $99.00

only,Once this is paid, our head office will release the fund on hold to enable you cash it.

To confirm this, copy this link pest to you computer
(https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=global)
and enter the below details accordingly to check transfer status.

(M.T.C.N):6368406063
Senders First Name: DALE
Senders Last Name: BUGGINS
Amount: $5000.00USD
Question Ok: Answer :Ok

With due respect, please get back to me urgently after
Checking the fund transfer status by confirming the below Details after that then you cantact for Mr Nelson Brown to instruct you on how to send the $99.00 to them for

the reactivation of the MTCN.

Full Name:
Current Personal Phone Number:
Country of Residence:
Are you ready to Pay the Activation Fee and receive you funds? Then get back to us.

Foreign Operations Manager
Email To Contact:(western_unioncom08@yahoo.co.jp)
Western Union Benin Republic.
Phone Number Call:+229-94270351

Best Regard
Mr Nelson Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam