419 scam: "Western Union"<gm@miaa.gov.ph> Your Payment Order is #: WUMT-*******635/2016

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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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
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.
- +22998575645 (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.
- wumtbj28@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wumtbj28@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2016 02:11:56 -0800
Subject: Your Payment Order is #: WUMT-*******635/2016

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
BENIN PAY-OUT CENTER

Dear Western Union Beneficiary,

Your Payment Order is #: WUMT-*******635/2016

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION.

We wish to inform you that the United Nations (UN) has authorized us to remit to you a total amount of $2,700,000.00 USD (Two Million Seven hundred Thousand United States Dollars). This amount is to be paid to you because of the fact that you were selected as a beneficiary in the Last E-mail ballot promotion Held, by UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION. This Program is inline with the Social responsibility of the United Nations Organization, which is held once Every year to compensate those whose funds were held all over the world especially in Africa, we wish to congratulate you formally.

The funds was paid out to us, by the United Nations, And they have successfully succeeded in depositing your whole funds with us Here at Western Union Benin. They have now ordered us to take full Responsibility in the transfer process of your funds and thus commence the Immediate remittance of your funds to you. Be strongly informed that because Of our Western Union transfer policy, your funds will be paid to you via our Western Union Daily Transfer limit of $5000.00 USD. This means that you will Continuously receive a daily amount of $5000.00 USD from us, and this amount Can be collected from any of our numerous Western Union outlets in your Current location.

To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to provide Us with; Your Full Name, Address, and Phone Number. Upon receipt of the Requested details, your first transaction will be activated by you, before we can proceed to provide you with the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for the First installment and we will continue to email you others after 24 hours of Receiving each payment.

For more information on your payment status;

Reply this mail via ( wumtbj28@yahoo.co.jp )and also call our 24 hours Helpline on 00229-98575645 for any inquiries on the above message.

Yours truly,
Jerry Thompson
For: United Nations/Western Union, BENIN REPUBLIC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam