419 scam: "Mr. Jim Jack" <info@wu.org> Your urgent response is needed at once.

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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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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: "Mr. Jim Jack" <info@wu.org>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jim Jack" <jimjack13@yahoo.in>
Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 02:29:04 -0700
Subject: Your urgent response is needed at once.

Attn:

In regards to our last mail, this is to remind you about the payment of in respect of your winning funds of $4.500,000.00 to our Account Officer Bright Osagie, so we can speedy your TRANSFER as soon as possible.

NOTE: You are advised to inform us why you have not make the payment, If we do not receive your payment we shall be constrained to return your funds back to the IMF as soon as possible. To stop this from happening Kindly visit the nearest western union and make the payment with the details of our protocol agent Mr. Eugine Nwaobodo Nwalieji given to you in our previous mail, your urgent response is needed at once.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK IT UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE DEMAND FEE, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE.

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ
1. SENDER FIRST NAME_____ Edwin
2. SENDER SECOND NAME____ Dennard
3. TEST QUESTION_________ VERY
4. TEST ANSWER___________ URGENT
5. AMOUNT________________ $5,000.00 USD
6. M.T.C.N:______________ 0691711481 (Available for pick up by receiver)

status Currently Available for pick up by receiver which is you, send the money now or you lose your fund, below is our receiver detail:

Receiver Name :::::::: Eugine Nwaobodo Nwalieji
Country :::::::: Benin Republic
City :::::::: Nikki
Question :::::::: what color?
Answer :::::::: Blue
Amount :::::::: $87.00
Money Transfer Control Number :::::::: (M.T.C.N)
Sender's full name ::::::::
Sender's Address ::::::::
Sender's Direct phone number ::::::::

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE YOU SHALL PICK UP YOUR FIRST RECEIPT OF YOUR US $5,000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW.

WE CONGRATULATE YOU IN ADVANCE.
MR. JIM JACK
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam