419 scam: WESTERN UNION <mr.brianmoynihan91@yahoo.com> CONGRATE, YOUR $5000 PAYMENT IS READY TO PICK UP NOW.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found 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.
- +22965907941 (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.
- westernunion0024@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <mr.brianmoynihan91@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION <westernunion0024@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:04:49 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CONGRATE, YOUR $5000 PAYMENT IS READY TO PICK UP NOW.

ION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER. ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE
DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE : +229 659 079 41
EMAIL:westernunion0024@yahoo.com
WEB www.westernunion.com

DEAR CUSTOMER,

FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED
NATION, BOAD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE
THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM THE
TOTAL FUNDS WHICH IS (1.5M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT,
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE FEES SINCE
YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM.

OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT
HAVE NO WEBSITEDUE TO FRAUD GOING ON WORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT
WEBSITE IS FAKE.PLEASE VIEW OUR WEBSITE NOW :WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.

THEREFORE GO STRIAGHT NOW AND PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE FEES TO ENABLE US
RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU
WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD,
ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE
US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT
AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTILL YOU SEND THE DEMAND WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF
MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE .

1.SENDER NAME:... JOHN MARK
2.TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ..........$5000 USD
5.MTCN..... 8801209854 (Available for pick up by receiver)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY
REQUIRED AND REMEMEBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 48HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE
CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO
HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND WHATEVER
YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

1.RECEIVER NAME:...... SUNDAY UDE
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4.TEST QUESTION:.....WHEN?
5.TEST ANSWER:......NOW.
6.AMOUNT ...........

ANYSEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE
TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW REGARDS MY
DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229_982-782-94 DR MICHEL JONE FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION
BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT DR MICHEL JONE GENERAL OPRATION MANAGER.

VITAL FINANCE
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
EMAIL: westernunion0024@yahoo.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER: +229 659 079 41

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam