419 scam: "Mr.John Barrasso"<info@semmuzik.com> Attn:Dear ATM VISA CARD Owner.......Read Carefully

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John Barrasso"<info@semmuzik.com>
Reply-To: <pf33054@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 May 2017 10:59:36 -0000
Subject: Attn:Dear ATM VISA CARD Owner.......Read Carefully

Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Department Of Justice Fbi New York 26 Federal Plaza 23rd Floor New. York 10278-0004

Attn:Dear ATM VISA CARD Owner.......Read Carefully

I, MR JAMES WANG (DOG) is hereby announcing to you that your ATM VISA CARD worth $10.700.000.00usd received at JFK airport since year 2014 from Benin Republic government authorities and Every necessary fees/charges has been paid by senders except $198.00 for CCC custom clearance certificate but a Lady Mrs. Jane Frederick came forward and claimed you sent her to claim your $10,700,000.00 because you are dead that you are having kidney problem in a process of surgery you died .

Did you order her to pay for Custom Clearance Certificate (CCC) to claim your fund ATM VISA CARD ? Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport NYC that you will send $198.00 latest tomorrow morning.

This is to bring to your notice that we have just been informed through secrete source that the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York are making arrangement to have your contract fund wired into the Bank account of Mrs. Jane Frederick, the lady that contacted them, earlier and presented some documentations evidencing your claim purported to have being signed personally by you for the release of your contract fund to her, since you have chose to ignore their messages and refuse to pay the required $198 for Custom Clearance Certificate charges as imposed, despite the advise we gave to you.

I want to personally assure you once again that you will have every course to smile and be happy upon conclusion of this project, as we will continue monitoring all your services with them at all level as well as your correspondence, until you have received your ATM VISA CARD accordingly. As a LEGAL OWNER, we are here to protect your interest and that is the reason why we are doing all we can to make sure all goes well, this is a huge amount of money which we don't wish for you to lose.

We understand that the imposed fee might be too much for you to pay so to further make things easier for you, we have discussed with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York pleaded on your behalf for them to give you the grace of sending half of the charges $198 for now after which the Diplomatic Agent makes the delivery of your ATM VISA CARD to you then once you receive your fund, you can then pay the balance of $198 ,

All we want you to do right now is to send the half of the money with the name listed below so we can forward it to Benin Republic Customs authority to help us bobtail the Custom Clearance Certificate and the diplomat will make the delivery to your home address tomorrow morning by 9:00 AM

RECEIVER: NAME: James Kosita
ADDRESS: 5, ALHAJI JACK STREET
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY: COTONOU.
TEST QUESTION:
ANSWER:
AMOUNT: $198usd
Sender s Name...MTCN#...
try and make the payment through money gram via transfer

contact me (+1 (202) 888-2084

Contact us right away and let me know when you send half of the charges as we discussed with them to enable them route your fund to you with immediate effect. This is a life time opportunity and we will advise you take advantage of it, before it is too late to do so.

God bless you!
Thanks.
Yours in service,

Best Regards,

MR JAMES WANG (DOG)
BADGE – JTT0471011111
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED S TATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam