419 scam: "Greg George"<admin@westernunion.org> YOUR PAYMENT OF $4,500 IS READY FOR PICK UP (MTCN: 509 019 2455)

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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. )
- "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. )
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Greg George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmariaalfredo923@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2017 12:12:33 +0300
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT OF $4,500 IS READY FOR PICK UP (MTCN: 509 019 2455)

Western Union Send Money Worldwide
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer office Benin Republic.
ADDRESS: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST OFFICE NIGER.
Website: www.westernunion.com
Dear

The Western Union Money Transfer Service NIGER headquarters
wishes to inform you that our Government has paid part of the fees
needed for the final release of your funds of $4,500USD to you this
month through our Western Union Office here in NIGER to avoid
you sending much money to African scam again.

And for your information the maximum amount you will be receiving
started from tomorrow is $4,500 USD till your total funds of $4,500
USD is complete transferred to you and we have been strongly to send
you the first payment of $4,500 USD today through our payment system
here before we find out that your payment file need to renew from
world Bank Central System. And we listed bellow for your first payment
of $4,500 USD been sent in your name today morning but you will not
pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$150.00 require to renew
and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central
System here in Benin Repulic.

Bellow is your first payment for $4,500 USD sent today.
Sender Name: Roy Heath
MTCN: 509 019 2455
Question= What Color
Answer= White
Amount Sent: $4,500 USD

So if you want to track the money and confirm if the funds is
transferred enter our website
(https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfer)
then click tracking and enter the MTCN Number?( 509 019 2455) Enter
sender's first Name: Roy, sender's last Name: Heath, and click
tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to
pick it up.

Final urgent in sending us the $150.00usd to enable us proceed on
reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central SYSTEM. Send
the fee directly with the name as outline below use it to send the
money via Western Union to enable us pick it from our department here
and reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank central
and commerce your daily payment immediately. we also repeat again, you
will not pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$150 require to
renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank
Central System in Benin Republic.

So if you would prefer to start receiving your payment first thing
tomorrow in the morning hurry up and send the renew and reconfirmation
of your payment file fees $150 usd with bellow information via western
union money transfer service.

Receiver's Name: Lucy Gattah

Country: Nigeria

Amount: $150 usd

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN#_______) is needed and sender's name

Finally Notice: This payment you are receiving is coming directly from
World Bank assistance programmable 2016 promo, so its risk free and we
the western union headquarters has agree to start sending you the
payment immediately you meet up with our demand in this latter. But
after 2days you did not reply stand the risk of cancel your payment
and have it return back to Government

Yours respectfully,
Dr. Greg George Director
Director Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam