419 scam: "WESTERN UNION"<westernunion@info.lee> ATTN: DEAR CUSTOMER,

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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. )
- "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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22963870888 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion_department@accountant.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2016 08:17:02 -0500
Subject: ATTN: DEAR CUSTOMER,

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Western Union Send Money Worldwide
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer office Cotonou Benin
ADDRESS: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC

ATTN: DEAR CUSTOMER,

I believe you received my previous email? Again I am Miss.Maria Longeria, the former
Director of western union Republic of Benin, I came down here in Cotonou Benin
Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and i was searching for some files that i left
in this office while i was working here, I found out that you have not received
your fund amounted at $1.5 Million usd since last year 2015, and i asked Mr
Anthony Robert what happened that you have not receive your fund and he said
that you refused to pay the $200.00 to update your western union transfer file
before starting your transfer.

I'm contacting you because the Director of the (IMF) International Monitory
Fund here in Benin Republic said that they will divert all unclaimed funds
including your funds to the Government Treasury account ''BY THE ENDING OF THIS
MONTH''just because that you don't want to claim your funds since the 2015 till
date. So I want to hear from you today so that I will know the reason why you
rejected such amount of money $1.5million which will change your life just
because of $200.00

I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me
the reason why you have abandon your funds because of $200.00. But if you don't
need it then I can change your name successful to another person so that this
Government will not claim this money but I know that you will not allow such
thing to happen to you in your life.

If you are finding it difficult to get the fee $200.00 immediately then you can
go ahead and send the half fee which is $100.00 so that immediately you received
your first payment $4,000 then you will send the balance of $100 back to me,
Please my dear I want to help you in this finally opportunity to receive this
fund because it was a big shock to me that you have not received your fund till
date and I’m very sorry for that, you will receive your fund before the end of
this meeting which will take us 3days and I will be here to monitor the
transaction until you receive your fund.

As a matter of fact, your first payment of $4000.00 is ready for you to pick up
at western union office now but still on hold until your transfer file is
updated today as soon as you've sent the fee.

HERE IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IS ON HOLD,

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N) **4-800-7632)
Senders First Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . Raymond
Senders Last Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . Thunder
Amount sent: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $4,000.00

Warning-- Do not go to western union store for the payment yet, till you send
the payment of $200.00 or half $100.00 today and get your file updated as
instructed by (head office of western union Benin republic) Or else you make
yourself a fool and THIEF before your western union agent.

Once you send the payment today I will get back to you within 45 minutes after
your transfer is updated with the Question and answer for you to pick up your
first payment immediately today, We advice you to use the below information of
our accountant to send the money:

Receiver name: _ _ _ _ Nwa John Ikem
Country: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Benin Republic
City: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Cotonou
Question: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ When?
Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Today
MTCN:
Sender Name:
Country:

Be rest assured that everything will be finalize the moment the $200 or half
$10.00 is received from you today, you will start picking up your daily payment
of $4000.00 immediately until the total amount of $1.5Million is completed.

Thank you
Best Regards
Miss.Maria Longeria
Former Western Union Director
Western Union Payment Department section X. office
Republic of Benin
Phone: +229 638 70888

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam