419 scam: "Wilfred Agent" <wilfredagent@yahoo.co.jp> ATTEN: DEAR FRIEND IS ABOUT YOUR Bank Draft of,$15.5 million usd Dollars

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "dhl1967@live.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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Wilfred Agent" <wilfredagent@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: dhl1967@live.com
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:12:15 -0400
Subject: ATTEN: DEAR FRIEND IS ABOUT YOUR Bank Draft of,$15.5 million usd Dollars

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirm able Bank Draft of
$15.5 million usd Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I
went and deposited the Draft with DHL DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE COMPANY,
REPUBLIC OF GHANA,because I traveled TO SAUDI ARABIA for a 4 Months Course.
MEANWHILE What you Have to do now is to contact the DHL DELIVERY COMPANY as
soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of
the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering
Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Check showing
that it is not a Drug Money.

The only money you will send to the DHL DELIVERY COMPANY to deliver your Draft
direct to your postal Address in your country is ($290) only being Security
Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. I would have paid that but they
said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
demurrage. You have to contact the DHL DELIVERY COMPANY now for the delivery
of your Draft with this information below:

1.YOUR FULL NAME:__________________________________
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS:______________________________
3.YOUR PHONE:_______________________________________
4.YOUR COUNTRY:_____________________________________
5.YOUR OCCUPATION:__________________________________
6.YOUR AGE:__________________________________________
ATTACH COPY OF YOUR ID:_____________________________

Here is also the person you can contact with the above requested information:
Mr.Obala T Mike
+233241617502
Email dhl1967@live.com

Finally,make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone
number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give
you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and know
when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again, try to contact them as
soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to
paythem their Security Keeping fee of ($290) for their immediate action.

Secretary,
Mr Wilfred

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam