419 scam: Western Union <"www."@circus.ocn.ne.jp> Dear Valued Customer,

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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. )
- "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.
- +22998805748 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <"www."@circus.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Western Union <western_unionresponse1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:15:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Valued Customer,

OCEANIC BANK PLC WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Send Money Worldwide

Address; BP 319 St. Peter & Paul
Road Cotonou Benin Rep.
Tel; Call me Now +229 98805748

Dear Valued Customer,

We are here to inform you that your compensation funds of $2,900.000.00USD is ready and will be transferred via Western Union Money Transfer only. In accordance to the engagement agreement with the various Ministries, which we were clearly warned not to tamper with your fund and no deduction for whatever reason, stating that it is a measure to safeguard the fund of the beneficiaries from embezzlement and misdirection.

The Western Union here in Cotonou Republic Of Benin has limited transfer rate because of International communities and Ant-Terrorist/Drug Law so on, we are permitted to transfer $7000.00 USD daily until your total payment is completed.

In other words. We have transferred your first installment payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & activation file fee amount of $198.00 USD you are supposes to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you to pick up on daily basis.

You will pickup the bellow installment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information's as soon as you send the $198.00 USD endorsement & daily activation file fee.

You can to track your first instalment payment online at

https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransfer

Sir, you should not worry about the on hold on the transfer which was made on your name and it is only when this payment of $198.00 USD is made that you can have full access to your transferred payment.

You can track your payment MTCN available to pick up but only when this payment is made according to the instruction from the government compensation office that every thing can be directed to your name fully.

We hope to hear from you urgently to enable us complete the transfer process urgently.

The Payment MTCN is available below for your tracking and confirmation on our official Website:

Sender$B!G(Bs First Name____Mike
Senders Second Name____Anderson
Senders Country BENIN
Amount$7000.00
MTCN Number___493 088 6481

https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransfer

HERE IS THE NAME YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $198 FEE

RECEIVERS NAME: Paul Kachi
CITY: COTONOU
COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC
QUESTION: URGENT
ANSWER: URGENT

We shall release to you, the Text Question and Text Answer upon the receipt of the official charges which will authenticate the legitimacy of your fund.

Please do not border to go for picking up the money without the payment of the required $198.00 USD endorsement & activation file fee because the funds is still on hold and you cannot pick up the money still after the payment $198.00 USD endorsement & activation file fee.

We await your prompt response.

Regards .

Mr. Stephen Keduora
Tel: (+229) 98805748
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGE
Director
www.westernunion.com
Our Ref:WUMTOXX2/987
Western Union Money Transfer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam