419 scam: "Marvin. Carradine" <xx@yy> ***SPAM*** SENT THE $185 VIA MONEY GRAM OR WU. ONLY.

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "drug clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "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: "Marvin. Carradine" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: <carradinmarvin6@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:41:08 -0700
Subject: ***SPAM*** SENT THE $185 VIA MONEY GRAM OR WU. ONLY.

Attention Beneficiary

I am a diplomat. I have been trying to reach you on your telephone for about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in Los Angeles International Airport. Address: (1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (US) with your two boxes of consignment worth $10.8 million dollars which I have been instructed by Authority to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money,

I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Certificate Drug/ Anti-Terrorists Clearance Certificate; which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery certificate so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful .

I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery Certificate Drug/ Anti-Terrorists Clearance Certificate; will cost us just $185 Dollars only to get the two certificate placed on the boxes as that will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference, they scanned the boxes and found out that the fund is 100 % spendable and accepted by any bank in the whole world.

As I can not afford to spend more time here due to other deliveries, I have some more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.

The said delivery after due investigation was carried out , contrary to Article102, section 36, subsection of the 1997 Drug and allied matters act, schedule guiding against Drug and money Laundering and Article 17, subsection 28 of 2002 Anti-Terrorist Act, guiding against all terrorists activities.

We wish to remind you once again of the consequences of delivering such sum of money outside the country without complying fully the provisions of the Drug Law/Anti-Terrorists regulations and provision of Drug/Monetary Charter which stipulated that an amount of such magnitude must carry; Certificate Drug/ Anti-Terrorists Clearance Certificate; which will duly guarantee and cover the money as being legitimately acquired devoid of terrorist/Drug or money laundry.

By virtue of power conferred on this office and in our capacity as sole Agency responsible for issuing the Drug/Anti-Terrorists Clearance Certificate for such amount, that is why they placed your boxes on hold since. and stop for delivery pending when you obtain the Anti-Terrorists /Drug Clearance Certificate (A.T.D.C.C).

SENT THE $185 VIA MONEY GRAM OR WU. ONLY.

Receiverâ€™s name: Nwobu E. Peter
Country: Benin
City: Cotonou
Amount: $185
MTCN.........
Sender Name....

To enable me reach them with the payment details so they can get the needed Certificate Drug/ Anti-Terrorists Clearance Certificate; and Fax it to me immediately so I can make my next step to your address soon. I can get everything concluded within 3-4 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Look forward to your immediate response with your payment information such as MTCN Number. Call me/text message +1 716 249-6772

Marvin Carradine

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam