419 scam: "WESTERN UNION"<western_union_2018@email.com> Congratulations Congratulations!

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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:

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. )
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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 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.
- kevin_smith@consultant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2018 12:30:16 +0100
Subject: Congratulations Congratulations!

From:The Office Of The Promotions
Manager.The Western Union,
International Promotions/prize
Award Department.

Western Union International Quiz Promotions(emails only)

We officially thank you for using western union money transfer over the years, we are happy to inform you that Western Union is giving out $1,000,000.00 in this year question & answer quiz promo.

From over 60,000,000 provisional company and private email list randomly selected by our computerized ballot system without a physical ticket sold. Your email address was attached to the winning no:004632-09 and reference no:wu01449076 and was selected as one of the 10 lucky participants in this year quiz/answer promo.

***************Prizes Won*************

One Million United States Dollar{us1,000,000.00}
One western union meduim face-cap
Western union t-shirt{medium blended with cap}
Western union shopping bag{male wallet}

************Reference Details************

Winning Number: 004632-09.
Refer3ence Number: wu01449076.

To redeem your ($1,000,000) won prize simply answer the questions correctly.

* in what year was western union money transfer founded?......
* Who are the founders of Western Union?
* who is the c.e.o of western union?.....

Send your name, country and correct answer to the promo manager. Mr. Kevin Smith via his address {Kevin_smith@consultant.com} for validation of winning and instructions to receive your prizes.

Copyright! 2018 the western union International promotions.
All rights reserved. Terms of service- guidelines

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This e-mail and any attachments thereto may contain confidential information and/or information protected by intellectual property rights for the exclusive attention of the intended addressees named above. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this message and its attachments. Unauthorized use, copying or further full or partial distribution of this e-mail or its contents is prohibited.
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam