419 scam: "westernunion.com" <wuniontelexdepartment@gmail.com> Western Union Statement of Account

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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:
- "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. )
- ",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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "westernunion.com" <wuniontelexdepartment@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "westernunion.com" <wuniontelexdepartments@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 21:38:24 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Western Union Statement of Account

DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION HEADS OFFICE REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN
01 BP 955,308, rue RÃ©vÃ©rend PÃ¨re Colineau
Zone Commerciale Ganhi, Benin Republique

Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday: 8:00AM-6:30PM
Friday-Saturday: 9:00AM-5:00PM

Send Money Worldwide

Congratulations to E-mail Owner,

Thank you for your patronage in using western Union Money Transfer to send money, we are so happy to have a customer like you. For using western union your details were put to the Ballot box for the ongoing 2014 to 2015 Western Union Money Transfer Middle Month Bonanza Draw. Your has been scheduled for $1,500,000.00 payment and will be sending to you via our Western Union Digital Transfer.

Your approved winning sum will be paid installment with sum of US$4,500.00 which will be sent to you in every Seven Hours (7hours) until the funds is completely paid to you, this is as a result that $4,500 is the maximum limit our Western Union payment system can send per transaction, we are legally allowed to pay you till you receive your winnings fund worth of $1,500,000.00

The Following is the Western Union Money Control Number for your First payment of $4,500: 3125850067

We advice you to track this information through Western Union Website

Senderâ€™s first name: JOSEPH
Senderâ€™s Last Name: MOTIGWE
MTCN Number: 312-585-0067

Note that the above has not been activated for you to pick up because your winning certificate has not been signed and attached to it as the winner. To enable us activate your daily transfer file immediately you are required to off-set the activation fee, and be informed that this charge can not be deducted from your account because itâ€™s bonded and has been programmed till your final payment. This would be paid once and will not be requested to pay it after your transaction has been activated.

I will Send you payment information to our Western Union payment agent as soon as I hear from you with your receiver details and cellphone number, and upon the receipt of the activation fee, your programmed transaction will be activated and you will receive your first transaction of US$4,500 installments within the next 1:45minutes.

The Receiver's Information Needed from you is bellow only for the owner of this e-mail (ID) Account:

Receivers Name:
Cellphone number:
Address:
Text Question:
Answer:

Immediately we receive above information and the payment, our Legal department will activate your programmed transaction to enable you receive your first installment payment of $4,500 immediately.

Please Note: this control number (3125850067) should be kept very safe and secret for your own security, to avoid someone else tempering with you funds.

We wait to receive your confirmation.
Thanks for using our service

Mr. Johnson Ube (Managing Director)
Foreign Operation & Accountant Supervisor
Diamond Bank Western Union Department (DBB)

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Internet communications are not secured and therefore Western Union International does not accept any legal responsibility for the contents of this message. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam