419 scam: "P.C.E Hikmet Ersek" <mgramoffice0@gmail.com> ATTENTION 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:

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. )
- "million 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)
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: "P.C.E Hikmet Ersek" <mgramoffice0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion826@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2022 11:49:17 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT!

This is to inform you that we have sent your first payment of
$5,000.00 (Five Thousand dollars) through Western Union as we have
been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation fund of
$4.5Million Dollars via Western Union by the United Nations
Government.I called to give you the information through phone but we
could not reach you even this morning.

So,I was instructed to email you the payment information which include
Reference (Money Transfer Control Number) and sender's name,so that
you can pick up your payment of $5,000.00 to enable us send another
payment of $5,000.00 by tomorrow as you know we shall be sending you
only $5,000.00 per day. Please copy this payment information below and
go to any Western Union office/outlet closer to you to receive this
payment of $5,000.00 and get back to us to send you another payment by
tomorrow. Use the below info to pick up your money now.

MTCN: 0379678085,
Sender Names: Waleed Omarh,
City: New York,
Country: United States.
Amount sent: $5,000 USD.

Senders address: same as above Call or email this office as soon as
you have received this payment you can also track your payment on line
by login to(https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfer)
before you go to any Western Union transfer close to you to pick the
money. Fill The Form Below.

1. Name:..
2.Address:..
3. Country:..
4. City:..
5. Phone Number:..
6.Occupation:..
7. Sex:..
8. Age:..
9. Whats-App Number:..

Your urgent respond is required.

Yours sincerely,
P.C.E. Hikmet Ersek

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam