419 scam: Mr John Williams <john_williams2@att.net> GOOD NEWS FROM FEDEX COMPANY

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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)
- "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 company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fedexcclltd@hosanna.net" (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.
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.
- +22997284710 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr John Williams <john_williams2@att.net>
Reply-To: fedexcclltd@hosanna.net
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:07:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD NEWS FROM FEDEX COMPANY

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft worth of (usd $2.500.000.00)TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED DOLLARS which my boss left with me before he travelled out,but I did not hear from you since that time. Then with the help of a friend who is a bank manager I cashed the money and deposited it as a BOX containing African clothes with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LIMITED, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the package.

The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to deliver your package direct to your postal Address in your country is ($125.00 US)ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE UNITED DOLLARS ONLY, being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $125.00 US Dollars. 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 FEDEX COURIER COMPANY now for the delivery of your package with this information bellow;

Contact Person: DR. ROBBIN JOE

Telephone:+229 9728 4710

Email Address:(fedexcclltd@hosanna.net )

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm the following infomation 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.

The infomations are;

1.YOUR FULL NAME;

2.YOUR AGE;

3.HOUSE/OFFICE ADDRESS

4.HOUSE / OFFICE PHONE NOS

5.A COPY OF YOUR PICT FOR IDDENTIFICATION

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $125.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.Do let me know immediately you recieves your package.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr John Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam