419 scam: "Rt. Hon. William Hague" <info@lee.com> Re: FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

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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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (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. )
- "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.
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Rt. Hon. William Hague" <info@lee.com>
Reply-To: <ups_customercareservice@xd.ae>
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:54:41 -0300
Subject: Re: FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
Dangote House,
Aguyi Ironsi Street,
Maitama District Lagos, Nigeria.

Attention Dear Scammed Victim.

I am Rt. Hon. William Hague am a legal practitioner and human rights activist. It was brought to our notice that some people here engage themselves in email scams, hereby extorting money from innocent people online in pretense of Winnings and so on. For this reason, a panel was held with Four countries Government and the world high commissions against fraud activities, in other to put a stop to that trend, and also to compensate the victims of such email scams. I will assist you in getting your funds the same way I did to Other Scam Victims, but you have to follow my instructions religiously.

I will like to inform you that your Compensation ATM CARD worth $3 Million Dollars will be sent to you through a UNITED COURIER SERVICE Delivery Company here from my Country to yours. All through i had a meeting with the UNITED COURIER SERVICE in their office today; yes i have agreed with them the price estimation with the UNITED COURIER SERVICE here on what it will cost for them to deliver your ATM CARD to your door step. and it all amounted to the sum of $200.00 USD being for the delivery of your ATM CARD to your home and As the beneficiary, you are entitled to settle the cost of shipment of your ATM MASTER CARD, for the delivery company to deliver your ATM CARD to you.

However, i received and have confirmed your full information and as a matter of fact i have packaged your ATM CARD for delivery once the Delivery fee is sent i will move straight to the UNITED COURIER SERVICE to dispatch your ATM CARD as it is the only thing delaying the delivery. Note that the agent is aware and ready for delivery to your home Country. the fee is the only thing left and also know that the immigration, customs and stamp duty as well a insurance will be confirmed and stamped as the your immigration officials at your airport not to interrupt the delivery to your home or delay the delivery.

Listen very carefully. Note that you will be given some vital document concerning your ATM CARD; listen up now inside your packaged ATM CARD the delivery agent from the UPS Courier Service is carrying to your home. There is a document; this document will backup your ATM CARD as soon as it arrives your home.

You are advised to make use of the Below information to send the fees across to the United Courier Company today immediately so that the delivery man will arrive your door step. You are to send the money($200.00) Two hundred Dollars only with the name of my revenue collector in-person below (Joseph Okeme) via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM TRANSFER.

Information for Western Union :

Receivers Name: Joseph Okeme.
Receivers Country: Nigeria
Receiver;s City: Lagos
Text Question: Helper?
Text Answer: God
Amount To be Sent....$200.00 Being delivery
fees.MTCN:...............................????

Make sure you send the MTCN for easy pick up. As soon as you send the Payment details today to enable me dispatch your ATM CARD and send you the tracking number then you will receive the delivery agent tomorrow morning at your home.

Go now and send the fees and make sure you wait at home to receive the agent tomorrow morning.

Thank you and God Bless you as i await the M.T.C.N to commence with the delivery.

Regards.
Rt. Hon. William Hague.
Legal Practitioner.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam