419 scam: Meritha Jennings <merithajennings@att.net> The secret behind your unpaid fund. [Strictly confidential].

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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:
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22998285879 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- clousj@uku.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Meritha Jennings <merithajennings@att.net>
Reply-To: clousj@uku.co.uk
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:44:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: The secret behind your unpaid fund. [Strictly confidential].

The secret behind your unpaid fund. [Strictly confidential].

This is just a true short note about your unpaid fund, so you need to relax and read very well to your best understanding.

I am Meritha Jennings, a computer scientist working with central bank of Benin Republic.I am 27 years old, just started working with C.B.B. I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED.. I took time to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and but the fund was not released to you.

The most annoying thing is that they won't tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they allow you spend money unnecessarily, I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security and assure me that when I make the release, you will settle me.

I needed to do this because I believe that you need to know the status of your Funds and cause for the delay, please this is like a Mafia setting in Africa , and you may not understand it because you are not an African. The only thing needed to release this fund is the Original Anti drug/terrorist clearance certificate which will be tendered to any of your nominated bank and the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) for clearance of the transferred amount in your account. Once the Original Anti drug /terrorist clearance certificate is obtained, funds will immediately reflect in your bank within 10 Minutes, the certificate is all that is needed to complete this transaction.
Note: that the actual funds are valued at 28.5 MILLION USD and the president made a compensation fund release for all unpaid beneficiary valued at USD10.5 million. Therefore, you will not be able to receive your Original initial fund in a single transfer, but firstly, the sum of USD10.5 million will be transferred to you as soon as the original document is obtained and cleared.
Get in touch with me immediate effect to conclude this final transaction immediately, and also send to me your convenient tell/fax numbers for easy communications.
Waiting for your urgent reply
Regards,
Meritha Jennings.
Tel: +229 98285879
E-mail: clousj@uku.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam