419 scam: "DR. GREG JOHNSON" <officefile----5112@att.net> We have a meetting today/ this morning been 28/02/2011.

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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:

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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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. GREG JOHNSON" <officefile----5112@att.net>
Reply-To: info.gregj@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:01:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: We have a meetting today/ this morning been 28/02/2011.

Atten Please.Â Â Â Â

Â

Â We have a meetting today/ this morning been 28/02/2011, with our board
of directors andÂ president has conclud that all the payment should be
sent/transfer before 24hours, you were given a bill of $33 , in order
to receive your your Payment to be sent to your destination address of
which we didnâ€™t hear from you and you did not send it.

Â

Our bank is now offering a Special Feb,Â Bonus to help all our
customers that are having their here in our office and their payment is
in our custody due to some prices.Â In order words we are now
requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $33 for the
transfer charges and other documents to receive your payment to your
destination address by today.Â Besides, this is an opportunity for you
and you have to comply now to send the fee so that we can transefer
your payment to your destination address but remember that after today
you did not make the payment/we did not hear from you,Â then we will
divert your payment to our Government, to aviod problem or we will
cancel the payment for this month of Â Â Â Feb untill next month March
because this month is not like last month. try to reconfirm us your
full name, Home Address and direct telephone number.

Â

Again after today We will enter A new project for against the month of
MARCH and that is the reason why we decided to help to all our
customers that want their Payment urgently before we enter into the new
project by today or tomorrow morning. for your quickly transfer of your
Atm card, you are advice to send the delivery charges by western union
or money gram Only today with the below details:

Â

Sender's Name:---------------

Receiver Name:Â Kelvin O. Omokwe.

Country: Benin Republic

City: Cotonou

Amount To be Sent: $33

Text Question to be used: What For?

Text Answer:Â Bonus.

Money Transfer Control Number(M.T.C.N):-------------

Â

Please note that as soon as you send the requested fee today, you have
to email us with the MTCN/Payment slip. Please note that this fee will
take care of every things, and you will receive your Payment within the
next 24hours as soon as you can send this fee today. so try all you can
to see that you send the fee this morning so that we can finishup every
things by today without any further delay again.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr . Greg Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam