419 scam: Western Union Office <officefile458@aol.com> CONTACT MR. BOBBY JAMES FOR YOUR INHERITANCE FUND.

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
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.
- westernunionpayment557@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Office <officefile458@aol.com>
Reply-To: <westernunionpayment557@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2023 12:16:06 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MR. BOBBY JAMES FOR YOUR INHERITANCE FUND.

Dear Sir/Madam,

There is an issue with the Western Union Money Transfer in the amount of (USD$4.5M) Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollar to the beneficiary directed in cash credited to file KT U/926775/03, at the owner of this email address. The International Monetary Fund contacted us for your Inheritance fund a couple of hours ago. Due to your allocated security code we are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer with our Western Union department. Here are the information’s needed for you to fill out:

1. Full Name:
2. Full Address:
3. Marital Statue:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
8. Tel.Number:
9. Country of Residence.

In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department: Central Credit Union WESTERN UNION OPERATION DEPARTMENT. 1800 K St NW STE 104, Washington, DC 20006, United States.

Bellow is their contact information-
Contact Person: Mr. Bobby James Western Union Payment Center Washington, DC, United States,
Email: ( westernunionpayment557@gmail.com )
Tel: 001 501 575 5845

As soon as this information is received, our Western Union Money Transfer Department will release the first payment of $7,000.00USD (Seven Thousand United State Dollar) Transfer Control Number to you, compiled over the cost of Inheritance file to enable our Western Union to replace your name on the first payment. Only charge in receiving of this first payment is the cost of obtaining the inheritance file, contact our Western Union Mr. Bobby James, he will direct best on how to get the needed Inheritance file.

When emailing, please use the (Reference number 250-33) for our mutual convenience. Remember that once the Inheritance files issue you will start receiving your daily payment per $7,000.00USD till the total ($4.5MUSD) Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars transfer to your name.

Note: The cost of Inheritance file can not be deducted from your total money due to your fund being under security and bond account.

Yours Sincerely,
Western Union Money Transfer office,
Central Credit Union of Maryland,
Customer Service.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam