419 scam: "Western Union"<wuspecialbonuspayment@gmail.com> Attention 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. )
- "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. )
- ",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 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.
- +22999210944 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wumt79507@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2018 08:17:44 -0700
Subject: Attention Customer

Western Union Headquarters
Address: 125 Western Union Building, Godson Park Estate 10947
Website: www.westernunion.com
Telephone: +229 9921 0944

Attention Customer,

This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed to transfer your fund $1.8,000,000.00 U.S Dollars compensating all the SCAM VICTIMS and your email was found as one of the VICTIMS. by America security leading team and America representative officers so between today been Wednesday, September 26th, till 30th Of November 2018, you will be receiving the sum of $3000.00 dollars on daily basis. However be informed that we have already sent the $3,000 dollars this morning to avoid
cancellation of your payment and to get your transfer proceeded.

You have only six hours to call this office upon the receipt of this email the maximum amount you will be receiving per a day starting from today is the sum of $3,000 and the Money Transfer Control Number of today will be issued to you as soon as we hear from you with swift response.

We need the below details from you to enable us proceed with your transfer to your Name immediately.

Full Receiver's name:
Your Country:
Address:
TelePhone Number:
Your Age:
Occcupation:

Finally, you are advised to call us as the instructed within 6 hours of which afterwards if we don't hear from, your transaction might be forfeited and it will take longer than expected before you receive it.

Thank you for using our services.

Best Regards,
Susan
Western Union Holdings Inc.
Website: www.wu.com/
Telephone: +229 9921 0944

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam