419 scam: Brian Hastings <ephraimachibong@gmail.com> Re: NOTICE FROM THE US CUSTOM AND BORDER PROTECTION

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- uscustomhouse@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Brian Hastings <ephraimachibong@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uscustomhouse1@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2021 03:24:45 -0800
Subject: Re: NOTICE FROM THE US CUSTOM AND BORDER PROTECTION

Hello dear,
This message has been sent to you before but no reply so I am once
again writing to let you know that we have successfully brought all
foreign transactions down here because of the complaints and reports
we are receiving that too many people out there are being
intimidating, cheating and depriving their legal right to their
inheritance, winning and contract funds from foreign countries.
Therefore, in regard to this, all matters regarding local and
international transactions from African, Europe, Asia etc have been
released and a total funds of $58,700,000.00 United States Dollars is
in your name according to the gathered files so far.
And you're to contact us today for the release and the claim of the
funds if you are still interested to receive your funds as we have
done our best to secure all the funds that were unable to transfer to
you from those agents.
I am attaching my ID and some back up papers regarding the legitimacy
of this transaction below.
N:B After this clearing house, all unclaimed funds will be sent to the
Federal treasury as unclaimed funds as the beneficiary will be assumed
dead.

Thanks,
Brian S. Hastings
EMAIL TO CONTACT uscustomhouse@consultant.com
United States Customs And Border Protection
Buffalo Sector Headquarters # 231 Grand Island Blvd, Tonawanda, New
York 14150, U.S.A.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam