419 scam: "Mrs. Theresa Jones"<postmaster@theleadbooks.com> (YOUR USD$7,000,000.00 UNDELIVERED FUNDS, CONFIRM FOR DELIVERY.)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (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.
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.
- +2348078004876 (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.
- express.mailingservice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Theresa Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hiltonwarner11@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:29:12 -0400
Subject: (YOUR USD$7,000,000.00 UNDELIVERED FUNDS, CONFIRM FOR DELIVERY.)

Bonafide Recepient,

Quite a while for these, to contact you for your cheque Worth $7,000.000.00 United States Dollars, which I have issued out to you as an appreciation for your trust and persistence.

I now had to deposit your check with the EXPRESS MAILING COURIER SERVICE,West Africa, I want you to get in touch with the EMS COURIER SERVICE for delivery due to the fact that I would be out of State for a Business Course At SWITZERLAND and to avoid damage or loss of your Check that was why I had to deposit it at the EMS COURIER AND LOGISTIC SERVICES.

What you have to do now is to contact the EMS COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible for the delivery of your check to you because of the expiring date issued on the check and make enquires on how to make the payment of $180 for the Security Keeping fee of you Package.

The reason you would be required to make this payment of a $180 for the Security Keeping Fee is due to the time wasted in contacting you, and the fact that they ensured safety in keeping your check which is referred to as DEMOURAGGES.

So you contact the Head of Operations Mr.Hilton Warner of The Ems Courier Service with the information below

EXPRESS MAILING COURIER SERVICE West Africa
Director General: Mr.Hilton Warner
Email Address: express.mailingservice@gmail.com
Phone Number: +234-807-800-4876 or +234-805-6537-202 (24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE).

I would advice you adhere to them and send them the following information's so as to ensure accurate delivery.

Required Information's:

FULL NAME :
ADDRESS :
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE :
ZIP CODE:
OCCUPATION :
AGE :
PHONE NUMBER :

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Process of Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number after you must have sent the $180.00 dollars for the Security Keeping fees to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your designated address.

Let me repeat again, contact them as soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to fill out the information's required above so that delivery can be acted upon response to email.You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your check.

Yours Faithfully,

MRS. THERESA JONES.
CC: THERESA ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION
CC: U.N PHILANTHROPIST

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam