419 scam: "Mrs.Carolin West"<c.west@gov.ng.com> We have been waiting for you to contact me for your Trunk Box

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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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "fedex63@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Carolin West" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <FedEx63@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:42:57 +0100
Subject: We have been waiting for you to contact me for your Trunk Box

www.fedex.com
Customers Service Hours--24 hour
Office Hours Monday to Saturday:
Greetings!!!

We have been waiting for you to contact me for your Trunk Box
worth$11,650,000.00
(Eleven Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars),
being
compensation fund for 150 scam victims, but I did not hear from you all this
while.

I have deposited the Trunk Box with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE, West Africa, I
traveled out
of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not be back until completion
of my 3
months course. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER
SERVICE
immediately to know when they will deliver your consignment to you because
of the
expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charge, Insurance premium
and
Clearance Certificate Fee of the consignment showing that it is not a Drug
Money or
meant to sponsor Terrorism attack in your Country. The only money you will
send to the
FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Trunk Box direct to your postal
Address in your
country is US$250 only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so
far. Again,
don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except US$250.

I would have paid that but they refused, because they don't know when you
will contact
them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE
now for the
delivery of your Trunk Box with this information below:

Contact Agent: Mr Daniel Smith
Email Address: FedEx63@yahoo.cn
Reconfirm the below information to the agent:

Full Names
Residential Address
Phone Number
Identification
Country
Age

Request for the tracking number of the Trunk Box to enable you track and
know when it
will get to your address.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them immediately you receive this mail
to avoid any
further delay and remember to pay the Security Keeping fee of US$250 for
their
immediate action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you
receive your
consignment.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs.Carolin West

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam