419 scam: "NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE"<iec-hcm@hcm.vnn.vn> YOUR PARCEL HAS BEEN INTERCEPTED AT THE NIGERIA CUSTOM SERVICE

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2348052324114 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nigeria.customsservice0147@mail.mn>
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 18:59:05 -0700
Subject: YOUR PARCEL HAS BEEN INTERCEPTED AT THE NIGERIA CUSTOM SERVICE

INTERCEPTION NOTICE

THE NIGERIAN CUSTOMS SERVICE DIVISION 2 HERE AT MURTALA MUHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE INTERCEPTED ONE PARCEL WITH THE TRACKING NUMBER (+2348052324114) AND REF: NUMBER: (EDCS7878/BR/ESP/08) HAS BEEN INTERCEPTED BY THE EAGLE EYE MEN OF THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SET BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO CHECKMATE ON ANY PACKAGES SHIPMENT GOING OUT OF THIS COUNTRIES.

THIS PARCEL WAS ADDRESSED TO BUT WHAT SURPRISED US WHEN WE SCANNED AND OPENNED THE PARCEL TO KNOW THE REAL CONTENTS,IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY OF 100% INSPECTION TO ENSURE IT IS FREE OF SCAM/FRAUD, DRUG, MONEY LAUNDARY AND TERRORISIM ACTIVITIES.

WE DISCOVERED THAT SAID PARCEL CONTAINED ONE ATM CARD WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.

PLEASE CAN YOU CONFIRM TO US IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS DIVERTION BY DHL COURIER OR IS THERE ANY CASES OF YOUR MISSING ATM CARD WHILE ON TRANSIT LAST WEEK?

THIS IS INLINE WITH NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT LAWS FOR FUNDS OR MONEY INSTRUMENTS PASSING THROUGH HERE IN THE AIRPORT BEFORE WE CAN STAMP THE CUSTOMS CLEARANCE SEAL ON IT TO AVOID YOU BEING AT LOGGERHEADS WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT ON ARRIVAL.

YOURS TRULY,

ABDULLAHI D.I. (MFR)

CUSTOMS COMPTROLLER.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam