419 scam: "WESTERN UNION"<test@9gp.by> NOTICE OF US$2.5 MILLION TRANSFER

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (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 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.
- offile30@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <offile30@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:57:22 -0800
Subject: NOTICE OF US$2.5 MILLION TRANSFER

Good day Dear Customer,

I am Mr.Dennis West by name,the Assistant Manager of Western Union Branch
Cotonou {Diamond Bank } Benin Republic,I am responding back to you this
morning to inform you that Our General Manager just passed away 5 days ago
(((Died))).

And all the files/documents was handed over to me yesterday, Luckily I
went through all the files and found out that you have incomplete
transaction in our custody,that is why I am writing to inform you that I
have some funds at hand to assist you to complete your transaction here in
our custody,but it’s not yet complete and secondly you have to assure me
that after I help you on this matter, and as soon as you receive your
first installation payment $3000 that you will return my supported money
back to me?.

The reason why I want to help you out is because if this fund last for
more three weeks in our custody it will be transfer to Government
account.Therefore re-confirm your name and current address to our office…

Thanks and God bless as am looking forward to hear from you as the funds
beneficiary,remember that you will receive 3 payments a daily which is
$3000 by 3 total $9000 until your total sum of $2,500.000,00 { Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only} is transfer to you
completely.Here is the contact email{ offile30@gmail.com } and

thanks for your patronage.

Yours sincerely,

Mr.Dennis West.
Assistant Manager Western
Union Branch Cotonou Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam