419 scam: Mr Martin Walker <terry_hedges@yahoo.com> Attention,Beneficiary,Customs Protection your package (CBP)

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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 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.
- officefilllofficefill61@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Martin Walker <terry_hedges@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: officefilllofficefill61@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:01:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention,Beneficiary,Customs Protection your package (CBP)

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Attention,Beneficiary,Customs Protection your package (CBP)

This is to
acknowledge the receipt of your affirmation and to inform you of the latest
development as regards the delivery of your consignment package by the Diplomat
Mr. Paul Eric Aka. While scanning the package our cashtrac machine detected that
the content of the package the Diplomat is delivering to you is cash worth the
sum of ($3.5Million USD).

It is a
crime to bring in money (over US$10,000) into the United States of America
without proper documentations and clearance because it shows that the money is
either being smuggled into the country or the source of the funds is
questionable.

It is very
important that all the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source
of the funds are provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in
accordance with the PATRIOT ACT so that the FBI,IRS and Homeland
Security will not come knocking at your door. In lieu of the above,It is
therefore mandatory that you provide the Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) to
prove that the funds have no links with any form of illegality.

Being
the beneficiary of the package,the Origin of Funds Certificate(O.O.F) is the
only way of confirming the source of the funds and it is your responsibility to
provide the Certificate before the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the
delivery To You Tomorrow.

The Diplomat's Flight Details shows that he
came from Benin Republic and we have contacted the relevant Authorities in that
country to inquire about the process of getting the
Certificate.

We were informed that the beneficiary of the package will
pay for the Certificate and the cost of this documentation $79 Dollars, You
have to pay this fee directly to them via Western Union Money
Transfer Or Money Gram in the name stated
below:

Receiver Name;; Mr. ude francis

Address;;;Benin Republic
City;;;;;;;;Cotonou
Amount ;;; $79
Question;;; In
God,
Answer;;; We
Trust

Upon the
receipt of the payment information,the Certificate will be made out in your name
by the Cotonou Republic Du Benin Authority, scanned and send immediately via
email to us so that the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of
your package to you tomorrow.

Failure to pay for this documentation is a
confirmation that you wanted to smuggle the funds into the country which is a
federal offense and a gross violation of the Patriot Act.

It is therefore in your best interest that you pay
for the Certificate as instructed immediately as the consequences of refusing is
very severe.
Yours
Faithfully,

Mr Martin
Walker
Email- http://us.mc1128.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=officefilllofficefill61@yahoo.fr
Email- http://us.mc1128.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?
A G Commissioner of U.S.

Customs Protection your package
(CBP)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam