419 scam: "Dr.Linda Williams" <tfdepartmentng@9.cn> From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams and Robert S. Muelle

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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:
- "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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a 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)
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 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.
- barr.williamsdedward42@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Linda Williams" <tfdepartmentng@9.cn>
Reply-To: dcfbi45@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 02:05:24 +0900 (KST)
Subject: From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams and Robert S. Muelle

From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams
and Robert S. Mueller IIIAnti-Terrorist and MonetaryCrimes Division
Fbi
Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of
Investigation.
FBI-Washington Field Office
601 4th Street,
NW
Washington, DC 20535
Website: www.fbi.gov

Attn: Beneficiary

From Head Department:
Dr.Linda Williams and Robert S. Mueller III Director Federal Bureau of
Investigation FBI. Washington DC, This is to notify you that your consignment
has been in our custody waiting, The Inspection Unit United Nations Heartfield
International Airport Atlanta Georgia discovered this abandoned shipment from a
Diplomat from Benin Republic under courier company and it was transferred from
JF Kennedy Airport to our facility here and when scanned it revealed an
undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately
110kg.

Meanwhile, base on our interview to the JF Kennedy International
Airport custom he said that the consignment box belongs to you but the diplomat
don't know the contents of the Box. the courier company registered it as a BOX
of an Africa cloths.diplomat don't know know it contains money. The consignment
was abandoned because of Award Ownership Certificate showing that the money is
not illegal.

Note, that the Award Ownership Certificate must
to be secured from the office of the Federal ministry of justic, because that is
the only office that will issue you the original Award Ownership Certificate of
this fund, Due to my position in service i called the Embassy shipping service
head quarter of Benin and i made a complain to them in regard to the Award
Ownership Certificate and i also told that it will cost you the sum of $88. 00
Once we confirm the original Award Ownership Certificate of this fund

we will release your consignment to you, The
Certificate charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by
the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economic situations that
make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of
their entitlement.

Contact the Embassy Office Direct with the
following information Below and send the money to help you secure the Award
Ownership Certificate, We are to inform you that your Consignment Package is
among the 15 packages listed for immediate dispatch which is now in our
office,

Contact person, Mr. Fedrick Bush
Email
(barr.williamsdedward42@yahoo.fr)

Tthe boxes contain more that $3 to 4M and the
consignment, The Consignment here are metal box with weight of about 110kg each
(Internal dimension: W61 x H156 x D73 (cm). Effective capacity: 680
L.)Approximately,

Note that you are expected to pay only $88.00 for and
you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the consignment box in
favour of Mr.Sunday Onyibor accountant officer Embassy Benin Republic, Send
the $88.00 through western union or Money Gram once you receive this mail with
the information below for immediate release of your consignment
box,

Approved Name: Mr.Sunday Onyibor
Country___
Benin Republic.
City______Cotonou
Text Question__What is good?

Answer________Wealth
Amount_______ $88. 00

The details of the consignment including your
name are tagged on the Metal Trunk box. So you are urgently advise to comply
with our demand so that we will release your consignment for the boxes to be
moved out of this
Airport to your address for onward
delivery.

From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams
and Robert S. Mueller IIIAnti-TerroristWASHINGTON DCAnti-Terrorist and Monetary
Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of
Investigation

FBI Director

Robert S. Mueller,
III

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This e-mail message, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise be protected by
law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam