419 scam: "Mr. Douglas H. Shulman" <foreignafairsministry@financier.com> U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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. )
- "fedexexpressdesk@admin.in.th" (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.
- +22999958514 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Douglas H. Shulman" <foreignafairsministry@financier.com>
Reply-To: fedexexpresdesk@admin.in.th
Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 13:23:29 +0100 (BST)
Subject: U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department

U.S.A. Internal Revenue
Service Department.
Bureau of Consular
Affairs
Washington ,
DC 20520
Greeting from USA
I.R.S,
Hon. Mr.Douglas H. Shulman

Attention
Please,

We write to inform you that your package with reference number
2661428 has been in Customs facility custody waiting for resolutions of the
clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address by the delivery Agent
who came all the way from Africa. We have been waiting for you to contact us
regarding your consignment box which the agent suppose to deliver to you which
was on hold by USA Customs Department and are requesting for clearance
certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box
before it will be released from the Customs to the delivery agent to complete
the delivery.

After the phone call we made on your behalf to the USA
Customs Authority and the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that the
delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete within two (2)
working days upon your compliance to our directives; You should send the sum of
$85.00 usd to obtain the needed Ownership-clearance certificate from Benin
Republic by contacting FedEx Express Courier Company where the Package coming
from.

The clearance 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. We will upon the confirmation of your
clearing charge assign Diplomatic Agent (Mr. Anderson Fair) to proceed with the
delivery.

Once we confirm the Ownership-clearance certificate from
FedEx Office Benin Republic, We will release your consignment to you and it will
be delivered to you by the agent, You can contact FedEx Office with the
following information,
Contact person: Mr.
Bako Larry
Email: fedexexpressdesk@admin.in.th
Contact Tel: +229
99958514

Note that you are expected to pay only $85.00 usd for
Ownership-clearance certificate and you are to pay it to the origination of the
package in favor of Mr. John O. Nnamdi, as accountant officer FedEx Office Benin
Republic Send the $85.00 usd through western union once you receive this mail
with the information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:_____ Onwuegbuka
N.John
Country/City:_________Republic of Benin
Test Question:_______Which
Color
Answer:____________Blue
Amount:____________$85.00usd

Once
you send the money please notify the FedEx Office with the MTCN for easy pick up
and for immediate action on the release of your Ownership-clearance
certificate.
Note that any
unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic Government after 7 days.
So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that we will
release your consignment immediately.

Yours
Sincerely,
Mr. Douglas
Shulman
Commissioner of
Internal Revenue
Service.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam