419 scam: "Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer"<teste@nff.adv.br> WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN//CODE 40404

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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:
- "required 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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- +22999447363 (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.
- westernunionoffice375@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionoffice375@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2017 17:52:45 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN//CODE 40404

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer
Send Money Worldwide
FROM THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE.
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC
OF BENIN FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
Addressee :Rue du Gouverneur Bayol;Boxe postale :BP 1280 - Cotonou.

I know it is because of your past experience that make you not to
believe me but I told you before that I cannot deceive you because my
bible says what shall it profit a man to gain material things and
loose your soul, what another assurance do you need before you will
send the required fee of $59 for us to renew your payment fill from
your Benin High Court ON YOUR BEHALF, i have assured you a time
without number that this is genuine and legitimate, this is your
payment details to pick up your first payment.

I swear and am here to swear again that nothing will stop to start
receiving your daily payment after this $59, if i fail to start
sending you your daily payment of $8,000.00 within 2hours after you
send the $59 as i promise you i cannot fail you, don't fear as soon as
you send the $59 today leave the rest to me and see if i am lie to you
or not because i can not use my life swear because of $59, how can i
swear against my life be cause of this FUND, but is to show you that
what am telling you is truth, so please try to understand me by
sending this $59 is big amount but is too small for the amount you
have to receive within 48hours.

Here is the information to use send the money so that we will complete
the matter once and for all.$59 only no more payment i swear i will
start sending you your total fund of $950,000.00 at the rent of
$8,000.00 per day immediately i receive payment, am here by giving you
100% Assurance that you will receive your fund and you can start
picking it.

Here is the information to make the payment of $59 through money Gram below:

NAME:=====Eric Udealor
2.COUNTRY:=====BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY :=====COTONOU
4.TEST QUESTION:=====HOW
5.TEST ANSWER:=====NOW
6.AMOUNT:=====US$59.
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (M.T.C.N======)
SENDER'S NAME=====

Please reconfirm your information to us to avoid any mistake on your
transfer.

Your Receiver Name...
Your Country.....
Tel;........
Age.......
Address............
Text Question.....
Answer.........

I guarantee you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of
$59.today we shall send your pick up information within 1hour.

MR, JOHN WILLIE
PHONE +229 99447363
EMAIL. westernunionoffice375@gmail.com
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN//CODE 40404

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam