419 scam: Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer USA URGENT RESPONSE

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
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.
- mr.jamesmansfield@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer USA
Reply-To: <Farrantorres971@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2023 22:54:58 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Worldwide
Department Of Western Union United States Of America.
Address : 7001 E Belleview Ave, Denver, CO 80237,

United States.

Greetings From Western Union Office Department

This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed to transfer your $4.5 Million Dollars

compensation for all the SCAM VICTIMS and

your email was found as one of the VICTIMS By America Security leading team, and America representative

officers, therefore between now till 19th

November 2023 you will be receiving the sum of 5000 dollars per day.
this is also to inform you that we have already
sent the first $5000 dollars payment this morning to avoid cancellation of your payment of 4,495,000

Dollars.

The money transfer reference number of todays payment is below

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT
https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-

service/track-transfer
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):0544537886
Sender Name: James Mansfield
Amount Sent= $5000

GO TO ANY WESTERN UNION OFFICE

LOCATION IN YOUR CITY AND PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT.

ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THAT,LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE WILL SEND TO YOU YOUR SECOND PAYMENT.

NOTE; That your first $5000 is on hold because of instruction from

IMF office, they have asked us to place it on hold, they are requesting your IMF Clearance Certificate in order to fulfil the entire necessary obligation

So that we will resume your payment through western union money transfer.

The necessary Obligation I mean here, is to obtain the IMF Clearance Certificate from the Federal High Court.
We need the below details from you to enable us place the payment to your name and transfer the fund to you.

KINDLY FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Your Full Name: _
Your Country: __
Your Direct Telephone Numbers: _
Your Current Home Address: _
Your Current Occupation: ___
Your Age: ___
Your Email

Address: __

Furthermore, you are advised to respond to our message, as instruction was passed that Within 6 hours without hearing from you, the payment

would be sent to the next beneficiary on the list.

Name: Mr. James Mansfield

Managing Director for Western Union USA.

contact him via email mr.jamesmansfield@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam