419 scam: "John West" <no-reply@FedEx.com> (FedEx Tracking Number#)

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "demurrages " (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. )
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fedex.online00@post.ro" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "fedex.online00@post.ro" (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.
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.
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.
- +447024052616 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "John West" <no-reply@FedEx.com>
Reply-To: <fedex.online00@post.ro>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:34:14 -0700
Subject: (FedEx Tracking Number#)

FedEx Courier Service.
Plot 8, Ahmed Way,
Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria.
Direct Line: +447024052616
E-mail: fedex.online00@post.ro

Customers' Service Hours--Monday To Saturday: Office Hours Monday To Saturday:

The FedEx courier Service Company is hereby passing an essential message to all
Our valuable customers to be very careful while presenting their receivers
Residential address to avoid wrong delivery. This Email is from FedEx courier
service regarding your parcel that was brought to this company to be delivered
to you by Mrs. Alice & Marcia Fert, along the delivery process there was a
misunderstanding between her and the Nicon Insurance Company in regard of their
insurance certificate which covers the security of your package and it happens
to be course of your parcel pending for the past Two years. Meanwhile we are
happy to inform you that the FedEx courier service has sort out and finalized
every Issue with the Nicon Insurance Company of Nigeria as the company
organization has also listed 4 valuable parcel's to be delivered to their owners

Therefore We are happy to inform you once again that your parcel that contain
ATM CARD worth of $2.5 million dollars is among the 4 parcel's listed which is
now in our Desk and also with your name as the receiver despite that we lost
your private residential address, which is an indication that you can now
re-send your residential address back to the office in charge with this e-mail
(fedex.online00@post.ro)

Meanwhile remember that the senders of this parcel Mrs. Alice & Marcia Fert still
owes this company the sum of $90 before the incident occurred, therefore i want
you to know that this company has spent out of their incomes in the process of
recovering back your lost parcel so dear sir/madam we once again appreciate your
patronage in our favor. as the rightful beneficiary of the funds, you are to
settle for the cost of delivery which is the sum of $90 via Western Union Money
Transfer Or Money Gram International Money Transfer so that your parcel can be
delivered to your residential address before it accumulate a demurrage after one
week, as you know your parcel is not just an ordinary parcel but ATM CARD with
huge amount and I think you understand what I mean by accumulating demurrages
Which you will not allow to happen to your recovery parcel that was almost gone
if not for the love of God.

We assure you that your parcel will arrive at your country in 2working Days
after the payment confirmation and it will get to your door step the second OR
third day as soon as this company receives the balance left by your sender? once
your payment is been received your tracking Number will be sent to you via e-mail
immediately so that you can track it yourself on our official
website:(www.FedEx.com) to know the arrival date to your location because we
operate in trust and loyalty in your favor. And also the FedEx courier Service
Company is hereby to inform all their customers to Be careful with all their
communication with the scam mails that are going all-over the world. below is
the payment address where the delivery fee will be sent as soon as possible

PAYMENT INFORMATION OFFICE
=============================================================
¢ RECIEVERS NAME------OKORIE STEPHEN
¢ RECIEVERS COUNTRY----Plot 8,Ahmed Way LAGOS NIGERIA.
¢ TEXT QUESTION------------WHAT COLOR
¢ TEXT ANSWER---------------.RED
¢ AMOUNT TO BE PAID---------$90
¢ AND ALSO WITH THE CONTROL NUMBER (MTCN)

Once the payment is been Made as required quickly get back to me with the below
Information

SENDER'S NAME -------
SENDER'S ADDRESS-----
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER -----

FedEx is one of the world's great success stories, the start-up that
Revolutionized the delivery of packages and information. In the past
30 years, we've grown up and grown into a diverse family of companies -a
FedEx that's bigger, stronger, better than ever.

Thank You

John West

FEDEX COURIER MANAGING DIRECTOR..
Victoria Island Manager FedEx Express Services Lagos -Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam