419 scam: =?utf-8?B?TVIgIEpvaG4gT+KAmU1BTExFWSw=?= <office.file445783@yahoo.com.ph> ATTENTION;BENEFICIARY,

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- +22999092718 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?B?TVIgIEpvaG4gT+KAmU1BTExFWSw=?= <office.file445783@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: greemstar_courier@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:59:34 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ATTENTION;BENEFICIARY,

ATTENTION;BENEFICIARY,

WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PACKAGE WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 2661428 HAS

BEEN IN CUSTOMS FACILITY CUSTODY WAITING FOR RESOLUTIONS OF THE CLEARANCE FORE

FURTHER DELIVERY TO YOUR ADDRESS BY THE DIPLOMAT 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 THEY ARE REQUESTING FOR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH

WILL BE OBTAIN FROM THE ORIGINATION OF THE CONSIGNMENT BOX BEFORE THE PACKAGE

WILL BE RELEASE TO THE DIPLOMAT 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 DAYS UPON YOUR

COMPLIANCE TO OUR DIRECTIVES; YOU SHOULD SEND THE SUM OF $99.00 USD TO OBTAIN

THE NEEDED CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM BENIN REPUBLIC.

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 MAKES 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 OUR DIPLOMAT

AGENT (JAMES CAMPBELL) TO TRAVEL TO USA AND COLLECT YOUR PACKAGE AND PROCEED

WITH THE DELIVERY.

MEANWHILE, YOU ARE ADVICE TO RECONFIRM THE BELOW INFORMATION UPON CONTACTING

US TO AVOID DELIVERY TO WRONG PERSON AFTER OBTAINING THE NEEDED CLEARANCE

CERTIFICATE FROM BENIN REPUBLIC BECAUSE THIS CERTIFICATE IS WHAT THE U.S.A

CUSTOM WANTS FROM YOU.

1- YOUR FULL NAME

2- YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS

3- YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER

4- YOUR OCCUPATION

5- YOUR IDENTIFICATION (PASSPORT NUMBER OR ID CARD NUMBER)

ONCE YOU NOTIFY US WITH THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND THE NEEDED CLEARANCE

CERTIFICATE FROM BENIN REPUBLIC, THE USA CUSTOM WILL RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT

TO YOU AND IT WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY THE DIPLOMAT AGENT.

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PAY $99 FOR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE AND YOU ARE TO PAY IT TO

BENIN REPUBLIC AS THE ORIGINATION OF THE PACKAGE IN FAVOUR OF MR. AFIOCHA ANTHONY , THE ACCOUNTANT OFFICER IN BENIN REPUBLIC, SEND THE FEE THROUGH

WESTERN UNION ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR PACKAGE,

RECEIVERS NAME:==== AFIOCHA ANTHONY

ADDRESS; 87 TOKUMBO ROAD - COTONOU/ BENIN REPUBLIC

TEST QUESTION; SENT

ANSWER: YES

AMOUNT; $99

ADVICE THE PAYMENT DETAILS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS ON ITS WAY.

YOU ARE URGENTLY ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH OUR DIRECTIVES SO THE CUSTOM WILL

RELEASE YOUR PACKAGE.

CALL MR AFIOCHA ANTHONY ONCE YOU SEND THE FEE OF $99.00USD SO THAT HIM WILL IMMEDIATELY GO AHEAD AND OBTAIN THE PAPER OK +229 99 09 27 18

SINCERELY,

MR .AFIOCHA ANTHONY,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam