419 scam: DIPLOMATIC AGENT <officem17@gmail.com> YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX HAS SUCCESSFULLY ARRIVED CALL 206-317-2376

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
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.
- diplomatgill.richard@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: DIPLOMATIC AGENT <officem17@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhldcbenin11@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 16:42:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX HAS SUCCESSFULLY ARRIVED CALL 206-317-2376

I AM DIPLOMATIC MR. GILL RICHARD I have been trying to reach you on yourtelephone just to inform you about my successful arrival inWashington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Sterling, VA 20166, USA, withyour two boxes of consignment worth 1.5M USD which I have been instructedECOWAS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport authoritydemanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is noway related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed tothem and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the onlything that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is notplaced on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get thedelivery tag so that I can exit the airport Immediately and make my deliverysuccessful .I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag willcost us just $95 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the boxes as
thattag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference,they scanned the boxes and found out that the fund is 100 % spend able andaccepted by any bank in the whole world.
Please try and reach me with this below telephone number :(206)317-2376 as Ican not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to takecare of in Bangkok. I have my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank wereyou will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have one morevital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy to you when Ireach your house as that itâ€™s the diplomatic rules, such as authorization todeliver.
Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting usto avoid delivery to wrong person.
1- Â Your Full Name2- Â Your Delivery Address3- Â Your Contact Telephone Number4- Â Your Occupation5- Â Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card number)

You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for youand they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countriesauthority. DIPLOMATIC GILL RICHARDÂ GET BACK TO ME IN MY EMAIL NOW; (diplomatgill.richard@yahoo.com)Â

Receiver: Mr. Augustine E OriCountry: Benin republic.City: CotonouAmount: $95 US DollarsText Question: Present Year?Answer: 2011Sender name.....Mtcn...
Call me as soon as you made the payment available to the name of Mr. AugustineE.Ori in Federal high court of Benin RepublicÂ TELEPHONE: 206-317-2376RegardDIPLOMATIC MR GILL RICHARD Â Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam