419 scam: Jean Michel <westerunion998@gmail.com> Respect: Beneficiary.

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("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. )
- "a security company " (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Jean Michel <westerunion998@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 03:12:04 -0800
Subject: Respect: Beneficiary.

Respect: Beneficiary.

Private Massage.Please contact me here michelj65@outlook.fr
In accordance to my religious persuasion, I felt expedient to write
and inform you on the wicked conspiracy hatched by the wicked
officers.From my position as a lowly clerk in this office, I
discovered that they moved the fund from United Kingdom to Madrid
Spain, and then moved it last week to Banco Italiano in ITALY.Today I
found out through the Central computer database that they are about to
reroute your fund to a security company in West Africa where they will
be able to maneuver the strict IMF money laundering regulatory
orders.With this, I felt that it is important for me to alert you on
this development. They are still using your name and
contract/inheritance identification number as the beneficiary but they
have changed the account co-ordinate and this is the reason they are
frustrating you by asking for endless fees in order to buy time
pending on when they will transfer your funds to their designated
account.

I have the reference number of the transaction and also I have the
contact of the official who is directly in charge at the Central Bank
of West Africa BCEAO Burkina Faso branch.Your payment is supposed to
go through the BCEAO Credit Control Financial Clearing House before
final Lodgement.All the data about your payment profile are within my
reach. I do not need gratification from you either in cash or kind. I
can never be a part of evil because the bible said YE SHALL KNOW THE
TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.Please respect my discretion in
this matter, you can send an email to me so that I can give you the
reference number and the name and contact information of the officials
of the bceao Banks .I repeat, please do not expose my person, it is
not easy to get jobs around here and I cannot contend with these
powerful individuals because they can eliminate me just like that.

Thanks and have a nice day.
Your Friend,
Jean Michel

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam