419 scam: "Mr. Michael Uba" <officefillee@globomail.com> YOUR PAYMENT OF $12.5 MILLION UNITED STATES 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million united states 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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- +22997046880 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- tntdeliveryservice1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Uba" <officefillee@globomail.com>
Reply-To: tntdeliveryservice2@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:03:42 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT OF $12.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS.

Dear,

Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid
the fee for the delivering charge of your Cheque Draft. And I went to the
Bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Dr
Jacob Papua the Director of Union Trust Plc Benin told me that before the
cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the $12.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash
payment to avoid losing this funds. However, all the necessary arrangement
of delivering the $12.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash was made
with TNT COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic,Dr Jacob Papua the
Director of Union Trust Plc Benin have to package the sum of $12.5 MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to
Register the Consignment with TNT COURIER COMPANY. In fact I thank God
very much for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the TNT Courier Company they promised that your
consignment will leave this Country in three days time,But the Director of
the TNT COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts information's to
able them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to your
Country. Note that the only fee that you will send to the TNT Courier
Company is $185 for their Security Keeping Fee.

Please write a letter of application to the given address below.

ATTN: Dr. Eric Obi
Phone: +229 97046880
EMAIL:(tntdeliveryservice1@hotmail.com)

Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they
need from you.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed info’s to the Director general of
TNT Courier Company Dr. Eric Obi with the address given to you.

Note: The TNT Courier Company don't know the contents of the Box. I
registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents
money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. don't let them know
that is money that is in that Box.

Urgent Response

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mr. Michael Uba,
+22993907426.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam