419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <revbensonwood2x2@gmail.com> Re: Attention:Fund owner, Western Union Alert

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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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "(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.
- +22998736687 (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.
- unionnwesternn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <revbensonwood2x2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unionnwesternn@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:33:32 +0100
Subject: Re: Attention:Fund owner, Western Union Alert

WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE / INTERNATIONAL COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC. /:LOCATION.RUE BPH14,KINGSTON AVENUE,
WITH THE BEST SERVICE TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS./ REF: MT89TQ :
DIRECTOR (DR.MARK FRANK)
E-MAIL ADDRESS: unionnwesternn@gmail.com
Tel:+229-98736687

INSTRUCTION ON YOUR PAYMENT FILES OF $3.500,000,00USD MILLIONS UNITED
STATE DOLLARS TRANSFER:

Attention:Fund owner

We are bring to your notice that your payment has been schedule to pay
you through Western Union money transfer. I am Dr.Mark Frank, the
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER Of Western Union Head Office here in Benin
Republic, YES !! Your re-confirming information as it is this the same
with one i have from the depositor after my verification, Yes it is
true that you have fund of $3.500.000.00 it was deposited by the
minister trust funds of Benin Republic in your name and the
instruction was to transfer the money to you and we have been waiting
to hear from you since regarding the issue.

I am not ignorant of internet fraud been done to these days but that
does not mean that every body is scammer , Good and bad are happening
in internet, In short, due to a lot of internet fraudsters special in
Africa and some part of Europe and even also in part of America that
why I am appointed FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER by Economic community of
West Africa State(ECOWAS) incolaburation with United Nation internet
tax force monitoring team Benin department including Government
official and people always used my influence to get their fund
successful, I have been into this profession for quite a long time
now, and I have been treating so many cases like yours and at
last all of them gets their fund without any problem, some of them
shows appreciation by send me some gift.

According to an instruction from the western union head office here in
Benin Republic which indicates that i should be sending $5000.00 Usd
daily until the total of $3.500million usd is completely transferred
to you,We also want to notify you that your depositor has paid for the
transfer charges and Your first payment of $5000.00 has been already
programed, here is MTCN; 7894568941 but it is invalidate by
International Monetary Fund Benin Republic Department because of your
western union none citizen payment file account is dormant which
suppose to be renew and legalize.

So you are advice to come down here to renew and legalize your payment
account file but if you cannot able to come down here then you are
required to send us $85.00 USD to let our attorney rush to the inland
revenue tax office Benin to renew and legalize your western union none
citizen payment file account on your behalf so that central Bank will
centralize your online code immediately according to international
financial institution policy for your total fund to be 100% free for
your first payment $5000.00USD to make available for you to pick it
and we will start releasing the other payment information to you till
your $3.500.000.00USD is completed transferred to you.

In accordance to the engagement agreement with Benin Foundation De
France (IMF /ECO-WAS /UNITED NATIONS) which we were clearly warned not
to tamper with your fund and no deduction for whatever reason since
your total is placed on hold, stating that it is a measure to
safeguard the fund of the beneficiaries from embezzlement and
misdirection.

You are assured that immediately your western union none citizen
payment file account is renew and legalize, the MTCN to your first
payment of $5,000.00USD will be released to you so that you will be
able to pick it up from any western union office or agent nearest to
you in your Area. Note:it is vital that you send the money today
because we would not be allowed to install your funds to you without
this your western union payment file account being activated. You also
have to understand that we give only 3 days to have your file
re-confirmed otherwise it will be cancel and divert into Government
treasurer/purse.

So therefore you are official advice to act fast upon receipt of the
email so that we will activate your file before the given date will
expire.

However below is the information of our accountant officer that you
will use to remit the $85.00 USD, So kindly send it via your nearest
western union money transfer to enable us pick it up and release your
first payment of $5000.00 dollars. The Receiver Name........DAVID
IKECHUKWU ONYEKWE

Here is the wiring information where to send the money;

Receiver first Name........DAVID IKECHUKWU

Receiver surname ...........ONYEKWE

Country......... Benin Republic

City......Cotonou

Question........ When

Answer.......... Today

Amount.........$85.00 USD ONLY

MTCN.......

SENDER............

Finally update us with the payment information of the $85.00 USD once
you make the payment and also your full receiver name and address.

Now am waiting for your urgent reply together with the payment
information of the $85.00 USD to enable us go pay activation of your
file on your behalf to let release your first payment $5,000 to you
today.

Furthermore,the total amount to be transferred to you from this office
is the sum of $3.500million dollar as instructed by the Ministry.

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED .

THANK YOU
YOURS IN SERVICE
DR.Mark Frank
Tel:+229-98736687
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER DIRECTOR
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC:
E-Mail: unionnwesternn@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam