419 scam: "DR. MRS SHERRY LINDA" <terry_hedges@yahoo.com> ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "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.
- officefile502@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. MRS SHERRY LINDA" <terry_hedges@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: officefile502@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:55:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION

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ANTI-TERRORIST AND
MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FBI WEB
SITE http://www.fbi.gov/
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING

935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C.
20535-0001


Attention
Fund Beneficiary ,

We
have received an Email from the Federal Justice office Benin
Republic corncerning your funds in their Country Benin Republic in which
we have sent a drastically information to the Gorvernment of benin republic to
Issue you the Fund Oregin certificate that is delaying your transaction with
them and you are given only 24hours to complete the request because this massage
was sent to your notification ealier on Monday, February 20th, 2012 5:09 AM and
we are waiting to hearing good news from Benin Republic that they have carried
out the give instructions.

Today
, We received an email from Benin Republic that you have not yet complied with
them as the instruction was given to you ealier, Remember that you are still
commiting laws by failling to follow instruction and according to our Internet
Monitoring System here we are still receiving some report about you from the
same country Benin republic.

Now
go ahed and direct the fee to Benin republic with their given payment
information as you a directed to enable them Issue the Certificate on your
behalf and release your funds to you without any further delay as a drastically
instruction has been forwarded to them on your behalf to see that you receive
your funds since this report has came to our
Notification.

Contact Person:
Mr. Daniel iwu
Email: officefile502@yahoo.fr

Office
Address: 73 western avenue victoria
Island.

Furthermore,
be advice that according to the United State Law together
with the FBI rules and regulations, you are to obtain the FUND OREGIN
CERTIFICATE document from BENIN
where the fund was transfer from. Also Note that you are to take care of your
FUNDS OREGIN Document to be issued to you right away, because due to the content
of the document and how important and secured the document is, You are to take
care of the document by sending to the Chief Justice Mr. Daniel iwu BENIN
the sum of $45.00 Dollars only for the issuing of the document right away and
your $3.7 million will be release to you That is the only way the OFFICE in
BENIN
will issue you the document, because they are going to issue you the Authentic
and Original copy of the document for the relasement of your fund.

HERE
IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE FEE THROUGH WESTERN UNION

Receivers
Name: osita tonny

Country:
Benin
Republic
City......
Cotonou

Test
Question: yes?
Answer : Yes
Amount:
$45 USD Only
Senders Name..........
MTCN
Numbers............

NOTE:
We have asked for the above documents to make available the most complete and
up-to date records possible for no criminal justice
purposes.

WARNING:
failure to produce the above requirement in the next 48 hours, legal action will
be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you, justificated and if found
guilty, you will be jailed...... As terrorism, drug trafficking and money
laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The F.B.I will not stop
at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulge in this
criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL ATTACHEMENT AS SOON AS YOU
OBTAIN IT.

DR.
MRS SHERRY LINDA
FBI AGENT

CC. TO:

FBI WEB SITE
http://www.fbi.gov/
Supreme
Court of the United
States
U.
S. Courts of Appeals
U. S. District Courts
U. S. Circuit Courts
Courts
of Special Jurisdiction:
Bankruptcy
Courts
Court
of Claims, 1855 - 1982
U. S. Court of Federal Claims, 1982 -
Customs
Court, 1890 - 1980
U. S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1910 -
1982
U. S. Court of International Trade, 1980 -
Commerce Court, 1910 - 1913

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam