419 scam: "Mr.Joshi O. Edward" <otutujoshi@joshis.net> CONTACT USPS COMPANY NOW FOR YOUR PACKAGE

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "registration 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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22999814455 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Joshi O. Edward" <otutujoshi@joshis.net>
Reply-To: uspsdelivery@w.cn
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:39:15 -0500
Subject: CONTACT USPS COMPANY NOW FOR YOUR PACKAGE

CONTACT USPS COMPANY NOW FOR YOUR PACKAGE

My Dear Friend ,

Complement of the season ,this is to inform you due to your inablity to
send the registration fee of your cheque as requested by delivering
company,i have waited for long now yet no result, i then decided to
involve the issued bank to avoid losing of the funds since my boss is yet
to returned.When i got to the bank ,the director told me that the cheque
of $2.500.000.00 ( TWO- MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE
DOLLARS) has three weeks to expire that after three weeks it will be
invalid then i told the director to convert the check into cash toavoid
losing of the money but he said i have to hire a lawyer before that can be
done since the beneficaiy of the cheque is not here ,a lawyer will be
involve for the signing and the procurement of vital documents needed for
that.

Now am just confused because i don't have the money for that but i have no
choice than to hire a lawyer who will assist me on this matter to avoid
loosing of the money .After meeting with the bank Attorney he told me that
he will arrange for the documents as well as the signings for the
covertion of the cheque into cash payment but he said i should pay him
$2500.00 for the job , then i explained to him that i don't have the money
, i pleaded with him that as soon as the job is done , then the money will
deducted for his payment before anything .

He accepted ,the bank director also assured me that after the convertion
of your check , the money will be packaged in a security box and deposit
it with the bank official security company for save keeping as well as the
delivering of your package to your home address .Am happy to inform you
that the job has been done , the check has been converted into cash and is
right now with United State Parcel Service for delivery, remember the
package was registered as family valuables for security reasons under
security monitoring department with a seal on it for security reasons .

You can find the code number beside the packaged box, there is a place in
it they wrote TRP , when you open it through that side you will see the
code to open it, so contact the company today on this informations bellow:

Company Name : United State Parcel Service(USPS)Security Department .
Contact Person: Rev.Dr.Bronze Kewuleri :
Cell Phone ; 00229- 99 81 44 55
Email: uspsservicebj@ufo.tc
Email: uspsdelivery@w.cn

Note ; your package was register as family valuables , in no condition
will you disclose the real content of your package to anybody till you
receive it in your home for security reasons,email the company , tell them
your name , tell them that your agent register your package with them for
deliver ok you can tell them my name.

Full Name:.......................
House Address:.......................
Telephone Number:.......................
Occupation:.......................
Sex:.......................
Age:........................
Country:........................
While contacting them includes these informations to avoid any further
delays in delivering ok .

Meanwhile i will be waiting to hear from you after your discussion with
them ,also i want to remind you that $3000.00 was deducted from the total
sum and this amount includes the registration and insurance cover $500.00
and $2500.00 of the barrister that did the job .

Best Regards,
Mr.Joshi O. Edward

Anti-fraud resources:

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