The following email pretends to be from Western Union. It contains an attachment and the body of the email asks readers to open the attachment.
The attachment is malware. This is another malicious email that uses a creative story to trick people into opening an attachment and letting a malicious program install itself. Don’t fall for it.
Below is an extract of the email:
Hello!
Attention! The wire sent to Kiril Fadeev, Moscow, Russia has been blocked by our security service.
Your credit card issuing bank has halted the transaction by the demand of the Federal Criminal Investigation Service (case No. 43125 since the recipient has been undergoing the international retrieval by the InterPol.
Please contact the closest Western Union office and make sure you have your ID card, the credit card that was used for making the payment, and the invoice file with you.
(The invoice file is attached to this message; please print it out and hand it to our agent.)
You can find the address of the closest Western Union agent on our website at http://www.westernunion.com
Thank you!
Just delete and ignore these emails.
I received this mail.
—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Dr Yoms Benson
To: arka2510@yahoo.co.in
Sent: Saturday, 6 September, 2008 6:15:04 PM
Subject: Investment Letter. From Yom Benson [TU]
Hello, Following the good position of your country in investment purposes, I decided to propose below mutual business transaction to you. I hope you will accept it and extend your cooperation to me. First, I wish to introduce myself to you. I am Dr.Yom Benson, presently based in the United Kingdom for this matter. There are some certain funds floating in Escrow Account of my Community Bank. This fund arose from the sales of Crude Oil allocated to us by the Federal Government. Out of the total Amount, we succeeded in paying half of the fund to our Community Leader to disburse to his subjects and the balance is what I and my Partner want to transfer urgently to your Account for Investment. I will give you the tactical formula for the transfering of the fund as soon as we receive your information such as your Private Telephone and Fax Numbers, Contact Mailing Address and your Business or Company Name which would be used to prepare documents for the transfer. You would be rewarded for your participation in the transaction. Best regards Dr Yom Benson.
Earlier also i received one such mail from a girl posing as Coffee Tycoon from Ivory Coast for sharing 8.5 Million dollars. Her Guarantor was a person Named Kousi Johnson, posing as the director of Central Bank of Ivory Coast. Please expose this mail and alert people from being defrauded.
Hi Chakraborty, this is another lottery scam (also called a 419 scam). Read these article for more info on what they are:
http://fraudo.com/2008/05/23/nigerian-419-scams/
http://fraudo.com/2007/10/28/lottery-scams/
Did this come from you?
— On Thu, 10/9/08, western union wrote:
From: western union
Subject: Dear Mr.Anthony Mccain, Read and understand that you are holding this funds here.
To: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008, 5:58 AM
Dear Anthony Mccain,
We are in receipt of your mail which we just receive this morning and the content was not well noted as we wich to receive from you because we have finalized all the needed arrangement towords this funds to been transfer to you by Western Union Money Transfer Here in this Country so therefore all we need from you is your complying so that you can not have any mis-understanding with us in this funds,
Meanwhile what we need now from you before we can proceed this payment to you is your full nane test quester and anwser which you want us to use and make your payment avaliable to you by tomorrow, Your First Payment of $5000.00 is dawn here to bee paid to you soon as we receive your Name and test Question and Anwser so therefore kindly forward it to us immediately you receive this message because we are waiting for you now,
The total amonut of $1.5m will been mount for Intercontinatail Bank Plc Benin and meanwhile your first payment of $5000.00 will be paid by us here in Western Union,
But been advice that you will sent only $95.00 only in for us to get your International Transfer pin code from the Federal Ministry Of Finaace Benin By today in as once we confirm the payment of $95.00 only notice that this is the only money you have to pay in this western Union hope you understand, So i advice you to hury up because you are the only person we are waiting before we can start your first payment ok,
If you have any question feel free to call +229-93-22-12-60
Thank you and we are waiting for your Good News Soon,
Regards
Mr.Eze David
Director Western
Union Department
Office Benin.
——————————————————————————–
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:43:30 -0700
From: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
To: western_union04@live.fr
CC: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Please send it back to who ever gave it to you.
God bless
— On Wed, 10/8/08, western union wrote:
From: western union
Subject: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
To: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 1:06 PM
Dear Anthony Mccain,
You are highly wellcome to Western Union Department Benin and your mail to us is well noted as you request, now we want to inform you that we have your funds here to been transfer to you in within 16 good days to your account which you will provid to us,
So therefore you are advice to send our Re-new and re-confirmation of your activation file because that is what holding us in this Western Union To transfer your funds to you immediately,
Don’t be confuse because everything is aporoved by our Goverment so Mr you are advice to hurry up because we are only waiting for your action because we can start your transfer after the payment,
Here is the receiver Name / Mr Eze David
Country / Beni Republic
City / Cotonou
Test Question / To Whom
Anwser / Eze David
Amount / $95.00 only
Mtcn???????
Please noted that we are waiting for your urgent reply with our payment so that we can proceed this transfer letast by tomorrow
Thank you and God Bless You.,
Regards
Mr.Eze David
Director Western
Union Department
Office Benin.
+229-93-22-12-60
——————————————————————————–
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——————————————————————————–
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did you send this?
— On Thu, 10/9/08, western union wrote:
From: western union
Subject: Dear Mr.Anthony Mccain, Read and understand that you are holding this funds here.
To: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008, 5:58 AM
Dear Anthony Mccain,
We are in receipt of your mail which we just receive this morning and the content was not well noted as we wich to receive from you because we have finalized all the needed arrangement towords this funds to been transfer to you by Western Union Money Transfer Here in this Country so therefore all we need from you is your complying so that you can not have any mis-understanding with us in this funds,
Meanwhile what we need now from you before we can proceed this payment to you is your full nane test quester and anwser which you want us to use and make your payment avaliable to you by tomorrow, Your First Payment of $5000.00 is dawn here to bee paid to you soon as we receive your Name and test Question and Anwser so therefore kindly forward it to us immediately you receive this message because we are waiting for you now,
The total amonut of $1.5m will been mount for Intercontinatail Bank Plc Benin and meanwhile your first payment of $5000.00 will be paid by us here in Western Union,
But been advice that you will sent only $95.00 only in for us to get your International Transfer pin code from the Federal Ministry Of Finaace Benin By today in as once we confirm the payment of $95.00 only notice that this is the only money you have to pay in this western Union hope you understand, So i advice you to hury up because you are the only person we are waiting before we can start your first payment ok,
If you have any question feel free to call +229-93-22-12-60
Regards
Mr.Eze David
Director Western
Union Department
Office Benin.
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:43:30 -0700
From: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
To: western_union04@live.fr
CC: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
— On Wed, 10/8/08, western union wrote:
From: western union
Subject: WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
To: anthony_mccain@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 1:06 PM
Dear Anthony Mccain,
You are highly wellcome to Western Union Department Benin and your mail to us is well noted as you request, now we want to inform you that we have your funds here to been transfer to you in within 16 good days to your account which you will provid to us,
So therefore you are advice to send our Re-new and re-confirmation of your activation file because that is what holding us in this Western Union To transfer your funds to you immediately,
Don’t be confuse because everything is aporoved by our Goverment so Mr you are advice to hurry up because we are only waiting for your action because we can start your transfer after the payment,
Here is the receiver Name / Mr Eze David
Country / Beni Republic
City / Cotonou
Test Question / To Whom
Anwser / Eze David
Amount / $95.00 only
Mtcn???????
Please noted that we are waiting for your urgent reply with our payment so that we can proceed this transfer letast by tomorrow
Thank you and God Bless You.,
Regards
Mr.Eze David
Director Western
Union Department
Office Benin.
+229-93-22-12-60
————————————————-
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No, I did not send this. It’s another scam email, just delete it.
My goal here is to help people recognise scams, not to propogate them
I recieve this mail today, what does mean?
Attention; Customers,
Your Fund that was intercepted by the security agency on the way to delivery due to your inability to meet up with their demands of securing the Insurance, Premium & Clearance Certificates to certify that the Bank Draft is not a Drug Affiliated Fund (DAF) neither is it funds to sponsor Terrorism in your country and other Certificates.
Due to the high cost of those certificates to the beneficiary the Ministry of Finance here in Benin Republic has Now arranged your outstanding payment of ($1.200.000.00) One Million Two hundred thousand united state dollars in cash payment to be sent to you through western union money transfer payment.
Your payment will be send to you by western union due to the inability of the courier company and the bank to deliver, the amount you will receiving per day is $5,000, you will receive every day till you receive the $1.200.000.00 united state dollars complete.
kindly contact the below payment Staff with your information such as
!)Receiver Name
2)Country
3)Phone number
4)Question and Answer.
Contact person Mr. John Booma who is in position to release your payment by western.union $5,000 a day.
E-mail:(western.union3@hotmail.com)
phone:+229 93169680
Regards,
Mr.raphael.
From Ministry Of Financial
OPEN ATTACH FILE AND CONTACT WESTERN UNION
Hi hurbz, it sounds like a trick to get you to open the attached file – almost certainly malware. There have been many different emails similar to yours with malware attached.
Some clues that it’s not a legitimate email:
- they used a Hotmail address, not very professional. And the Hotmail address doesn’t match the sender’s name.
- Who would give you $1.2m dollars just like that?
- Were you really expecting a Western Union transaction?
I also received email from Charles Balack -(markadams@perpignan.net)saying they had arranged payment of 2.5 million to be sent thru western union regards 5,100.00 everyday unitl all paid. I am 82 years old and could have really used that money, but I know now it has to be a scam. I did respond to westernunionmoneytransferdept0@gmail.com to
Mr. Charles Balack, western union depart
Financial Bank Benin
Tel. +22995429241
At end of email is signed by
Dr. Malik Ali
the director of operations
foreign remittance division
I am worried because they asked for copy of my drivers license and my daughter scanned it to jped format and sent it to them, they did not ask for processing money so I thought it would be ok. Now I worry they can use my ID in some way to hurt me. Please advice me of how to handle this and what to do about my ID. Who would I report this to.
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Audie Grounds
Hi Audie.
Western Union do not use a free Gmail account, they have their own email addresses that end with @westernunion.com . And it’s highly unlikely a stranger will give you large sums of money for no logical reason. So this really seems like a scam.
Your drivers license can be used to aid in “Identity Theft”. It contains personal information that can be used to identify you, or to identify someone who has your details.
You should contact the organisation that issues licenses in your area (e.g. a DMV office).
i want to know this is true agent of western union office benin republic
Western Union of the Benin Republic I need to know a answer, does a Mr. Mark John work there also do you have the phone number of:22993740412 or 22993263898 in your office. If you do not have those numbers than can you tell me where they come from PLease.
Kathy Mcleod
i need to find out their a name work for western union of mark james here is their telephone # 229-9344-8266 i need to find out he told me this is not a scam i have more proof ? their are 3 people in this ?
We received an email from Peter Moore, Forign Operation Manager, Western Union Office Benin Republic. He wants us to sen $55.00USD to Ike Chizoba, Cotonou, Benin Republic. We can then pickup $5,000.00 at Western Union Office USA.Do these people work for Western Union??
Thank you
Tom Padgett
I don’t know who works at Western Union. Do you know these people? Do you live in Benin Republic? Were you expecting this money? If not then it’s probably a scam.
i got email from western union is it true?
Having received the transfer form, your first pay-out of USD$10,000 has been sent to you but it has no receiver’s name therefore you will be unable to pick it up until you remit the USD$260.00 only to able us obtain a legal declaration authorizing us to release it with your name and put your name as the receiver name. Be informed that you are required to pay an authorization and service charge attached to your first pay-out of USD$10,000.00. This is because the IMF did not pay for them. The Western Union charges and authorization fee is USD$260.00 only.
You are advised to track your money with the information below,to be sure that your money is awaiting authorization and is available for pick up. Note that the remaining fund/payment will be paid installmentally in the following order:
1. USD$10,000.00 made payable to you from the western union
2. USD$289,884.00 made payable to you via bank wire transfer from our designated paying bank.
Upon receipt of the fee for the authorization and the service charge, you will be receiving your first Pay-Out of USD$10,000.00 ONLY.
Here are details of your money transfer of USD$10,000.00 made on your behalf
PAYMENT DETAILS MADE FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION!!! You can check the data online via Western Union website below: Website: wumt .westernunion .com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
OR Call WESTERN UNION HOT LINE ON +448007314814 to track your payment.
Please follow the voice instruction for further directives.
Amount: USD$10,000.00
MTCN: …………..Sender`s first name: Mark
Sender’s last name:James
Note that within 72hrs (3 Days) if you do not remit the required USD$260.00 only,the money which has already been made (USD$10,000.00) will be withdrawn back and remember that the detail of the money that was given to you does not bear your name as the Receiver’s Name until you make the payment of the USD$260.00 only.
You are to send the required USD$260.00 only through any western union outlet in your country to the name of our protocol officer as stated below; Receiver’s First Name:IVANReceiver’s last Name:IBEKWEAddress:PLOT 84 AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET LAGOS, NIGERIATest Question:COLOURTest Answer:WHITEAmount:USD$260.00 As soon as you have made the payment,you are advised to send the below immediately for prompt pick up so as to effect your transfer without further delay. Sender’s Name:Sender’s Address:Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):Total Amount Sent:
Call me directly for confirmation of this message through the phone number below..Direct line :+234-803-796-4715
Have a nice day. Regards,
Mr.Mark James
+234-803-796-4715
very much thank for you if you send me e-maill do you send it or not?
m.uthpalawarna, someone in Nigeria is asking you for money. Do you know this person? Were you expecting $10,000?
You can read more about Nigerian scams here:
http://fraudo.com/2008/05/23/nigerian-419-scams/
http://fraudo.com/2007/10/24/a-summary-on-nigeriam-scams/
still i am not pay.
Received the following email that appears to be a scam/malware. Could you verify if below email content looks familiar.
Hello.
The amount of money transfer: 3317 USD.
Money is available to withdrawl.
You may find the Control number and receiver’s details in document attached to this email.
Western Union.
Financial Services.
Have got an e-mail today. What do you think, what does it mean?:
Attn: My Dear
We have arranged your payment of ($1.5Million) One Million five hundred thousand united state dollars Previously in ATM payment card to be sent to you through western union money transferpayment:
Your payment will be sent to you via western union. The amount you will receive per day is $7,000 The minister trust funds and IMF boards of Benin Republic will send you the current standard track details you will need to pick up your ($7,000) payment by western union, you will receive every day till you receive the $1.5Million united state dollars, now no need to send you this ATM card because you can not be able to withdraw the ATM card due to the atm master card contain large money on it.The director administrtor trust funds has already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on thi email:(western_moneydepartment1@secretarias.com) however, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by western union per $7,000 a day.
Also note that the money was send to our office by our presidnet is excellent Mr Malam Nuhu Yar” adua he told us that is using this opportunity to compensate those people that have been scam buy our useless citizen nigeria and he said we should tell you that he is doing is best to stop this scammoing that is going on in his country nigeria, So that is the main reason why he use this opportunity to copnensate he or she that have been involve in one way or ther other been scam.
MRS BISI CARSON, western union department
Telphone:( +234 708-6018-606}
E-mail:(western_moneydepartment1@secretarias.com)
The financial western union payment center has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitchesin receiving your payment.
Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your payment and the only money you will pay is the processing and administration fee which is only $285 usd before you will start receiving your fund.
Receiver name————— Country——————— City————————Tel————————-Test question————— Answer———————-Comply
now because as soon as you send this required details to MRS BISI CARSON she will start sending your payment by western union.
Regards,
MRS BISI CARSON
Hi Christina, thanks for sharing this email. It’s obviously a scam. I hope you didn’t send them any money.
i check the status of the money that i will receive..but it says” awaiting authorization” what does ot mean and how many days will i get the money? thanks!
Marian, it would be best to visit a Western Union branch and ask them. Do you know who sent you the money? Were you expecting it? Could it be a scam?
Im grateful for the article.Really thank you! Will read on…