419 scam: "Mr Willy Scott." <cacciotti.valerio@alice.it> Welcome TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE

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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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22999691561 (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.
- union87benin@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Willy Scott." <cacciotti.valerio@alice.it>
Reply-To: w.union87benin@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 13 May 2017 03:28:18 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Welcome TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE

Welcome TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE. COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS
367 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU
Time of service: Mon-Fri, 7:30am close by 9:18pm
Saturdayâ€™s: 9:00am close by 8:30pm

Attention Dear,

We the western union board office has hereby write to inform you that after
the meeting with the federal government and the federal ministry of finance
today, we found out that you have been nominated to receive an award from the
federal government which is the sum of $12.8 Million USD your were awarded by
the federal government since 22nd, August 2015. But the ex Director of federal
ministry of finance decided out of his greediness to claim the funds and we
found your payment file under his table he was fired immediately and they
appointed a new director.

Therefore you are advice to provide your receiverâ€™s information to enable us
start transferring the funds to you as directed by the appointed new federal
ministry of finance director you will be a receiving it as daily payment
through this bank Financial bank of Benin republic, and the amount you will be
receiving is $5,000 daily until the total payment has been send to you.

Meanwhile you are advice to contact the western union agent Mr. George Torres
with your informationâ€™s as directed below.

Your Full Name: ___________
Your Address: __________
Your Country: ___________
Your phone numberâ€™s: __________
Date of birth: _________
Sex: ______
Occupation: __________
Copy of your ID or driver license: ___________

And note that you will be asked for this code numberâ€™s (31bx76) remember to
include it when sending him your informationâ€™s to enable him find your payment
file without any further delay. His name is Mr. George Torres Email: (w.
union87benin@gmail.com) Also call him as soon as you send the information for
quick reply +229-9969-1561

Warning you shouldnâ€™t share this message with anyone to avoid impostor someone
trying to claim your fund or anything like that. So be warned this message is
for you alone and should remain secrete until you receive your whole funds, and
please if you are not the owner of this email address please do not reply back
to this email.

Regards
Mr Willy Scott.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam