419 scam: "Mr. MICHAEL BURTON"<office@pargels.com> Dear Valued Customerr

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
- +2348026309032 (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.
- dhlexpress0012@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. MICHAEL BURTON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhlexpress0012@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2012 09:49:12 -0400
Subject: Dear Valued Customerr

Dear Valued Customer,

Welcome to the dispatch Center of the DHL Express. With reference to the email you received from us, there is one ATM parcel which was deposited in our office by BANK OF AFRICA to be delivered to you, we have no but we are acting under his instructions and we have been waiting for you to contact us all this while that is why we went through your information and decided to get you.

All you need to do right now to get your enveloped type package in which the ATM of $850,000.00 US Dollars is included delivered to your door step is to go ahead and pay the $65 USD only. I will send to you the Scan Copy of the Airway Bill and the package order number as well as the package tracking number in which you can use to check your package status at any DHL branch nearest to you and also on our website online. Do note that any contact with any DHL BRANCH near you will be of no use until I send to you the parcel delivery details along with the Air Way bill so that they can help you track your parcel and I can only send that after payment of the $65.

Please kindly note that we do not operate COD (Cash-On-Delivery) on this type of fee since the delivery fee has been paid for. Thus any mail regarding COD (Cash on Delivery) may not be acknowledged.

Note that for efficiency, transparency, and speed all payments are made through our Senior Officer ( OFORKA CHRISTIAN ) to our Accounts Department via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram Money Transfer with the following information;

Name: OFORKA CHRISTIAN
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
CITY: LAGOS
TEST QUESTION: WHO
TEST ANSWER: AGENT
Amount to Be Sent: $65 USD

Kindly Note That Parcel will get to customers 48hours after payment have been confirmed.
After payment you are required to send to us a well scanned copy of your payment receipt alongside the following details through this email;

Name of Sender:
Address of Sender:
Money Transfer Control Number: or Payment Reference No:
Amount Sent:

You are to locate the closest Western Union or Money Gram Agent either in a Mini Mart or A Post Office and effect the payment. Note that your package is expected to be delivered as soon as your Payment has been confirmed by our Account's
Department due to the service type you opted for. For further information do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,

Mr. MICHAEL BURTON
Customer Relations Representative
Tel; +234 8026309032
DHL COURIER SERVICES
EMAIL:(dhlexpress0012@hotmail.com)

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Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam