Internet fraud. The criminals usually ask for money to be sent via Western Union.

  see also Internet fraud update , The money laundering fraud, Fraudsters haunting dating/matchmaking websites, The fake job offer fraud , The fake loan offer fraud and the bank accounts they use.
 

Western Union

Internet fraud criminals will usually tell their victims to make payments via the Western Union money transfer service. They will give victims a spurious recipient name and address and will ask that they be sent the Western Union "MTCN" (money transfer control number). If you have lost money to the criminals in this way, can you please let the writer know at which office the money was actually collected by the criminals. Ask Western Union for this information or ask your local police force to ask on your behalf.

A typical e-mail from the criminals (May '05. In this case, regarding an e-Bay scam):

GREETINGS,
THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL BACK CONCERNING THE DELIVERY OF THE THE CHEQUE TO YOU. I WILL WANT YOU TO PLEASE KINDLY HAVE THE CHEQUE DEPOSITED INTO YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT AND HAVE THE SHIPPING FUNDS WITHDRAWN AND HAVE IT WIRED TO MY SHIPPER VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER LOCATION CLOSEST TO YOU . .THE FUNDS SENT WILL BE USED BY MY SHIPPER TO ARRANGE FOR THE PICK UP FROM YOUR LOCATION. I WILL WANT HIM TO COME TO YOUR LOCATION VERY SOON AS THE TIME COINCIDES WITH THE SHIPPMENT OF MY GOODS IN ****** . I CALLED HIS COMPANY AND I WAS TOLD THAT HE IS PRESENTLY IN NIGERIA HANDLING SOME EXPORT DUTIES ON BEHALF OF A FIRM BASED THERE. SO HERE IS THE SHIPPERS INFORMATION BELOW WHERE YOU ARE TO WIRE THE REMAINING FUNDS TO:

MR LEKAN WILLIAMS
52 VICTORY LANE IKOYI
LAGOS NIGERIA 23401
234-802-835-9794


AFTER YOU HAVE SENT THE MONEY FOR SHIPPMENT THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO
HIM, I WILL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS FROM YOU:

1.SENDERS NAME AND ADDRESS (your full name andaddress)
2.RECIEVER'S NAME( MR LEKAN WILLIAMS )
3.MTCN (MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER).
4.TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER( favorite color answer blue)
5.AMOUNT SENT..........
6.A SCANNED COPY OF THE WESTERN UNION RECEIPT..............