419 scam: =?utf-8?B?RmVkRXjCriBOb3RpZmljYXRpb246?= <filess-----doc@att.net> =?utf-8?B?RmVkRXjCriBOb3RpZmljYXRpb246?=

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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:
- "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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "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. )
- "tax 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. )
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "stamp duty charges" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (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)
- "fedexcourierltd4@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- +22998397091 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?B?RmVkRXjCriBOb3RpZmljYXRpb246?= <filess-----doc@att.net>
Reply-To: fedexcourierltd4@admin.in.th
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:20:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?RmVkRXjCriBOb3RpZmljYXRpb246?=

FedEx Benin Head Office
70 International Airport Road
Mafoluku, Portonovoh.
+229 9839 7091

Attention: Dear Valued Beneficiary,
CLAIM NOTIFICATION.

This is to notify you that your parcel is still in our possession, this parcel contained an International Cashier Bank Draft/Cheque worth the sum of $450,000.00(Four Hundred & Fifthy Thousand USA dollars) only and it is ready for delivery to your doorstep. Meanwhile, before the delivery or shipment will take place, you are advice to send to us the following dataâ€™s mention below:

1. Your Name
2. Address
3. Telephone

The above requested informationâ€™s will enable us deliver your parcel correctly without any mistake or delivering your parcel to a wrong person. Furthermore, you might be asking yourself how we came to get your email and also how the check was issued in your name. Anyway, your check was brought to this office by a Lottery Fiduciary Or Claims Agent, signifying that you are a rightful winner to their Lottery Award selected randomly from 10 lucky email addresses which your email address came out as one of the lucky emails address.

FedEx courier service company has now been mandated to deliver the check because all issues that made the check pending at our office in the last several months have been resolved. The issues included insurance cost, tax fees and other universal costs like drug clearance and anti terrorist paper work. The issues with International Monetary funds and Internal revenue service (IRS) have also been resolved.

We are happy to inform you once again that your parcel that contains the sum of $450,000.00 is among the 24 parcels listed which is now in our office and also with your name as the receiver. We do not have your address which is an indication that you can now re-send your residential address, telephone as stated above back to the FedEx company where your parcel can be delivered to you without hesitation. Meanwhile, remember that the sender of this parcel to you thatâ€™s the fiduciary agent still owes this company the sum ofÂ US$55.00 before the incident occurred. Note that this fee is not just for delivery but also for the payment of immigration and customs stamp duty, this company has spent out of their incomes in the process by the recovering back your parcel. So dear customer we once again appreciate your patronage.

Without hesitations you are to pay for just the balance left by your sender since we have lost his contact. This payment has to be via western union money transfer with the below payment information so that your parcel can be delivered to your residential address before it accumulate a demurrage after one week.

We assure you that your parcel will arrive at your country in three days to your door step after the balance payment is received. Also note that your tracking number will also be sent to you to monitor the package as it comes.

And also the FedEx Courier Service Company hereby inform all their customers through this medium by eradicating all their communication with the scam mails that are going all-over the world be careful with their e-mails so that your parcel will not be in danger with their evil plans.

FedEx provides access to a growing global market place through a network of supply chain, transportation, business and related information services.

PAYMENT INFORMATION FOR THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS STAMP DUTY CHARGES BEFORE DELIVERY EFFECT, FIND BELOW:

Receivers Name: MR. JOHN ONYI
Senders Name:__________________
Text Question: BEST COLOUR
Answer: WHITE
Location; Cotonou, Benin Republic.
MTCN Number___________________
Amount to be send: US$55.00.

Please you have to send the full payment information including the MTCN Number for we to fully proceed on your delivery.

E-mail: (fedexcourierltd4@admin.in.th) get back to Us With The Payment Of US$55.00 dollars for delivery and also for payment of Customs and Immigration charges, Clearance and Stamp Duty So That We Can Proceed With The Delivery Today.

WAITING TO READ YOUR E-MAIL.
YOURS AFFECTIONATELY.
FEDEX COURIER MANAGING DIRECTOR..
MR. TERRY JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam