419 scam: "Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington , DC 20520" <offillea2@yahoo.com.ph> Greeting from USA Embassy,

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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +2348068045504 (Nigeria, 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.
- info_usaembassy13@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington , DC 20520" <offillea2@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: info_usaembassy13@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:43:15 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Greeting from USA Embassy,

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington ,
DC 20520

Greeting from USA Embassy,

THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR
THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS

ATTENTION:

This is to notify you that your consignment
has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be
effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us
regarding your consignment box which Courier Company suppose to deliver to
you which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau and requesting for
clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the
consignment box before it will be released. As a result of you not comply
within duration given by Benin Government that is the reason the
consignment box was diverted to treasury.

All the welfare of United States Citizen is my consing. Am here to take the protocol of all our citizens to not be cheated by
Africans.

After the meeting held by our board of director which was
concluded that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be
complete within three working days upon your comply to our requirement which
is by sending the sum of $45.00 to enable us obtain the needed certificate
and effect with the delivery of your consignment immediately.

Note
that your consignment box has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to
receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. Mean while you
are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid
delivery to wrong person.

1, Your full name

2, Your home
address

3, Your occupation

4, Direct Telephone
Number

Once you notify us with the above
information we will release your consignment to you,

Contact the
Embassy Office Direct with the following information Below,
Contact person,
Mr. Bill Bush
Phone
+234-8068045504
Email ( info_usaembassy13@yahoo.com )

Note that you are
expected to pay only $45.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it
to Benin Republic as the origination of
the consignment box in favour of Mr Chris Bala as our accountant officer in
Benin Republic Send the $45.00 through western union or Money Gram once
you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release
of
your consignment box,

Receivers Name:?????????? Ike O.
Mike

Country: ?????????? Benin
Republic

Test Question:?????????? who is the receiver?

Answer
:?????????? Ike

Amount: ?????????? $45.00

Once you send the money,
try to notify us with the MTCN and sender name for easy pick up and for immediate action on the
release of your consignment.

Please
treat this as matter of urgency . Note that any uncliam consignment will be
return to the Courier Company after 3 days for final divert.

So you are urgently advise to comply with our demand so
that we will release your consignment.

Regard,

Dr. Moore Frazer,
Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs
FROM UNITED STATE OF
AMERICA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam