419 scam: "Robert Pelham" <zahidkhan@meb.com.pk> From InterPol Fraud and Crime Unit----Important Notice

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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance letter" (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. )
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "sellivano@qq.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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +447031935033 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert Pelham" <zahidkhan@meb.com.pk>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 16:51:11 +0100
Subject: From InterPol Fraud and Crime Unit----Important Notice

Attn:

My name is Robert Pelham. I am the Chief inspector of crime and fraud Unit, London Interpol.

Please go through this message carefully.

I am officially sending you this e-mail in order to notify you about your unpaid overdue funds, before I proceed further, I will want you to keep this message confidential.

Last year, a meeting was held at the Interpol Headquarters in London, and the Director of FBI from United States of America also attended the meeting, it was a discussion about crime and internet fraud from Africa and some part of Asia countries, and in the conclusion of the meeting, I was ordered to investigate and monitor every incoming and outgoing transaction from all banks in United Kingdom, and most especially all Western Union and MoneyGram transaction.

With this monitoring system, i was able to see the numbers of people that are sending out money to imposters in Africa and Asia Countries through Western Union and MoneyGram daily, and whenever we suspect any transaction, we always alert the Western Union or MoneyGram to placed hold on the transaction and return back the money to the sender, because we don't want innocent people to be defrauded of their hard earn money. Interpol is meant to protect the people, and fight against corruption and crimes.

Due to the multitude of cyber crimes from Africa and some Asia countries,the World Bank President have decided to cancel every Inheritance, Lotto, Compensation payment from Africa and Asia Banks, meanwhile you can no longer receive your payment from any bank from Africa or Asia, all payment has been channeled to be paid out from the HSBC BANK in London.

Mind you, if you are still dealing with any Bank, Diplomat Agent, Courier Agent or Lawyer in Africa or Asia, you have to stop that right now, because your real funds papers has been moved to the HSBC BANK in London, meanwhile your overdue funds would be legally paid into your account from the HSBC BANK within short period of time, and take note, your overdue funds is $6.9Million USD only.

Few beneficiaries from USA, CANADA, BRAZIL, AUSTRALIA and SINGAPORE have received their overdue funds of $6.9Million USD from the HSBC BANK, so i am using this medium opportunity to inform you that your overdue funds is no longer in Africa or Asia, it is now with the HSBC BANK OF LONDON, and make sure you don't send your money to anybody again in Africa or Asia, because i can see your name on the Western Union transaction list.

NOTE: In order to claim your $6.9Million from the mandated paying bank, you will need a INTERPOL CLEARANCE LETTER, kindly get back to me with your full name, home address, cellphone number, Sex, Age, Marital Status, with this information, i will be able to process your INTERPOL CLEARANCE LETTER to enable you to receive your unpaid overdue $6.9Million USD from the paying bank.

Send your details to me on this E-mail: sellivano@qq.com

Yours Faithfully
Mr. Robert Pelham.
Chief Inspector Of Crime and Fraud Unit.
Tel: +447031935033 / +447031903317

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam