419 scam: "Tzvika Berkovich"<lee@rmg.ie> GOOD MORNING

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic delivery"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance 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. )
- "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. )
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Tzvika Berkovich" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bekovichtzvika@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2019 09:39:54 -0800
Subject: GOOD MORNING

Good morning , It is a pleasure reaching you this morning, I am Diplomat Mr Tzvika Berkovich , the Special diplomatic agent from Federal Republic of Uganda (East Africa) . I am in custody and appointed Agent to deliver your sealed Package as you already know to your home address.

Our Flight was delayed but safely arrived at DFW International Airport Texas, USA. about an hour ago and I have been able to secure your package so that it will not be inspected before clearance. I want you to know that the package is sealed and as routine with ALL sealed Diplomatic Packages, you have to pay the Basic Arrival clearance fee and Duty Charges before the package will be released from the Cargo Arrival Department to proceed to your address Via the next available flight to your City.

Before my departure from Federal Republic of Uganda, i had earlier informed The General Manager of our company about the Basic Arrival clearance and Duty Charges since the package will be delivered sealed to your Doorstep, I know from my past experience that all sealed package must pay clearance amount at the second airport of Landing before further delivery to the Destination.

The Basic Arrival clearance fee and Duty Charges of your package at the Cargo Arrivals has been calculated to $50.00 USD, Please kindly send the money urgently to me here so that i can pay the clearance to be allowed to board the next available flight to your city to be able to complete my delivery to you before 2:pm as am going back immediately. For facilitated process, send me your phone number for sms and call for the easy communication now, you are to send the clearance amount directly to me here through a fast money (MONEY GRAM, WESTERN UNION or WALMART to WALMART MONEY TRANSFER) with the information below.

Receiver Name.. Glenn bush
State … Dallas Texas
Text Question .. A
Answer … B
Amount … $50.00

I hope you know the rules of Diplomatic Delivery to avoid problems, you MUST follow my instructions for the successfully delivery of your package to you today. I want you to keep our communication highly confidential for the security of the package and I promise to protect your Identity as stated in the International Diplomatic code of conduct. PLEASE do not delay in sending the money before 11:00 am today as i am at the Airport so that i can be able to get to your city and hand over your package to you immediately and then return back home.

I await your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours in service,
Diplomat Mr. Tzika Berkovich
My Phone Number (254) 739-9084

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam