Hopefully, we are a savvy enough group of people to not fall victim to Internet based schemes which seek to separate you from your money. These schemes (scams) are many and varied, and quite sophisticated.
But then , most disabled individuals possess better radar than most, having to deal with bureaucracies which present their own brand of unfairness. You end up being wary of everything.
A little publicized breach in a database of disabled people has evidently found its way into the hands of some criminal types who are operating a rather realistic looking scam. Between the Office of Disability Policy, and a few other agencies, no one is owning up to the database breach, and it was quickly remedied.
However, there is a chance you might receive an official looking email from the good folks at Western Union, allowing you access to funds. Do not be fooled.
Please, if you receive an email from these folks, forward the email to the FBI Internet Fraud unit:
http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
Then, block the sender through your email provider. As this particular scam is a cleverly disguised Western Union communication, you might want to contact the main Western Union office to let them know this fraud is being perpetrated in their name.
http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp?country=global
Below is the text of the fraud. Notice the url they provide. It reads out as wumt.westernunion.com And the site is a direct replica of the real Western Union website.   Be careful out there.
Advocate
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Attn.
The management Western Union International Money Transfer, fund mangers of United Nation/IMF Fund Office London hereby confirms receipt of your information in regards to payment reference number 72912 due you. After due verification we confirm the said information to be same with the one in our records. We have this morning secured the approval for the said payment from the British Financial Service Authority as attached. Accordingly we have made the said payment as directed by the International Monetary Fund office headquarters that beneficiaries collect their first USD10.000.00 across the counter of any western union agent of their choice in their resident country once they meet their financial obligations. Also to note is that Western Union is not allowed to make all payment at once via western union money transfer due to the way the fund came to our headquarters and for security reasons and your countries financial regulations. An International Remittance File Voucher will be purchased in your name to for us to enter your name and MTCN numbers in the western Union Global networks to enable you enable you walk into any western union shop or agent of your choice and pick up your funds. Note that the remaining fund/payment will be made install mentally in the following order:
1. USD10, 000.00 made payable to you from the western union.
2. USD840, 000.00 made payable to you via Bank to Bank transfer from our designated paying bank.
Here are details of USD10, 000.00 made on your behalf today, you are not permitted to pick up this money until your International Remittance File Voucher is purchased.  Below are the information of your payment you can track the funds and see that its available to be picked up by you.
PAYMENT DETAILS MADE FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION!!! (1.) Amount: 5,000 USD MTCN: 5507885626
Senderç—´ first name:Â Peter
Sender’s last name: Anderson
(2.) Amount:5,000 USD MTCN: 8478097679 Senderç—´Â first name:Â Peter
Sender’s last name:Â Anderson
You can re-check the data online via Western Union website below: https://wumt.westernunion.com
Your are required to urgently check the status of your payment online through our website as indicated above and contact us for the release of your International Remittance File Voucher upon your confirmation that the money sent to you today is available to be picked up.
We awaits your urgent confirmation to that effect.
Yours Sincerely, Mr. Mark Steven James Western Union Payments
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