419 scam: "Dr. Charles Bello" <charlbello---88@att.net> URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

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:
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "wunionofice02@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Charles Bello" <charlbello---88@att.net>
Reply-To: wunionofice02@msn.com
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 06:50:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Attention Beneficiary,
Â
I am Dr. Charles Bello, General manager to African Development Bank, this note was taken in my office where I was serving verification documents to theÂ two white men Mr. Albert Evans and Richard Williams who stormed my office with the black man, Mr. Anderson Odili who claimed to be your representative and they said that you were dead and before your death, you appointed them as the next of kin to your contract Compensation payment of $850.000.00 presently under our custody. These two white men and the black gentleman quickly applied that your inherited fund should be presented to them at the spot through our Western Union Money Transfer to their nominated receiving address.
Â
Please be informed that any silent to this massage means that you were dead, therefore we highly need your urgent response for more confirmation that you are not the one that appointed them to come and claim the fund on your behalf, but we will not hesitate to continue the payment transmission as re-commended through our Western Union Office to them if no response comes from you.
Â
Contact person: Dr. Solomon Eze
Western Union Payment Head Office
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Email Address: wunionofice02@msn.com
Â
You are to ask him to give you the MTCN, Senderâ€™s name, question and answer to enable you pickup the $5,000.00. Also be informed to re-confirm to him your following information.
Â
1. Your Full Name............
2. Your Address..............
3. Your Marital Status.......
4. Occupation and Age........
5. Your Mobile Numbers/Fax...
6. Country...................
7. Your International Passport/Driving License...
Â
Waiting for your immediate response, but your silence will be a clear indication that you are the one that authorized them to affect the above claims. Regards,
Â
Dr. Charles Bello
OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN BENEFICIARY
NOTIFICATION PAYMENT DEPARTMENT

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam