419 scam: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <toffice38@gmail.com> Attention Dear Beneficiary

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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. )
- "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 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.
- westerno942@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <toffice38@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westerno942@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 07:54:44 -0800
Subject: Attention Dear Beneficiary

Attention Dear Beneficiary

Welcome to Western Union Head Office and this is to inform you that usa
president Joseph R. Biden has given the final order after conference
meeting held yesterday with the Kristalina Georgieva.International Monetary
Fund (I.M.F) compensating all the scam victims with $6.500.000.00 USD here
in Benin Republic (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only and your
email address was found in the scam victim's list. This Western Union head
office has been mandated by the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F)
Director to transfer your compensation fund to you via Western Union Money
Transfer Daily

Your first daily payment of $ 5,000.00 sent to your name today, here is the
information: MTCN;462-980-9104, follow it now with this link
https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer to confirm it

I told him to keep sending you $ 5,000.00 a day until you paid
$6.500.000.00 is completely transferred to you

If you prefer to receive your funds in form of an ATM Visa Card, we could
load and ship your ATM Visa Card to your address which will permit you a
daily withdrawal limit of 10,000 thousand dollars only per day

Remember we needed your full information where your second payments of
5,000.00 USD will be deposited to avoid wrong transfer such as,

Your Full Name:............................
Your Home Address:......................
Your Country/ City: .............................
Your Age:....................................
Your Sex:........................................
Your Direct Phone Number:..........................
Your ID copy:............................

so that they are safe. Contact Person: GABRIEL MIRACLE

Western Union GABRIEL MIRACLE
direct cell phone number +1.(360)339-8255
EMAIL ME HERE (westerno942@gmail.com)
============================== =============================Western Union Money Transfer Agent Location, EMS Post Office.
Registered No: 1026167. Head Office: 125 Marina Street, Cotonou Benin Du'
Republic of Benin JAMES BROWN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam