419 scam: "©UPS Online Management Team."<musifoh@yahoo.cn> YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED.

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +2348023531227 (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.
- michaelusifoh@superposta.com (Superposta; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "©UPS Online Management Team."<musifoh@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:10:09 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED.

Dear Customer,

This email is coming to you as a reminder concerning your pending package that has been with us for a long time. As you already know that this package is containing an International Certified Bank Draft in your name and in the amount of $2.5 million usd.

This email is to let you know that our delivery team has finally carried out delivery of your package. The package left Lagos Nigeria on 02/07/2012 and since on the 21st of February, 2012 it has been in Louisville,Kentucky, United States awaiting custom clearance.
To track your package, go to www.ups.com and insert the tracking number below to view delivery status.
www.ups.com
Tracking Number: H8640250193

On the tracking page you will see that this package is going to a wrong address. This is because you have refused to give us your cooperation. You are hereby advice to provide us with the below details so we can immediately have it sent out to our deliverymen in Kentucky.
Your Name(In Full):
Your Delivery Address:
Your Direct telephone Number:

Please note that you are required to provide a redirection fee of $90USD which you are to make available to this office via WESTERN UNION or MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER in the name of our accounting officer
stated below.

RECEIVER'S NAME: .................METCHIE KENNEDY.
RECEIVER'S ADDRESS: ..............LAGOS-NIGERIA
QUESTION: .....................OUR COLOUR
ANSWER:.......................GOLD
M.T.C.N:.................To be Made Available After Payment

Upon receiving your correct details and the redirection payment MTCN from you, we will immediately notify our regional depot and the Airport Authorities in USA so that the package will be redirected to your correct address immediately.

Give me a call on +234 80 2353 1227. This is important and as such your immediate response will do you Good.
You can also email our dispatch office at : michaelusifoh@superposta.com

Management,
Mr. Michael Usifoh
©UPS Online Management Team.
All rights reserved.
© 1995-2012

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What can you do when you receive 419 spam