419 scam: "John P. Torres" <info@uscustoms.org> U.S. Customs and Border protection Enforcement

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
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.
- uscustom94@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John P. Torres" <info@uscustoms.org>
Reply-To: uscustom94@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2024 03:34:44 -0700
Subject: U.S. Customs and Border protection Enforcement

U.S. Customs and Border protection Enforcement
Albany International Airport
Federal Inspection Service (FIS)
6 Jetway Drive
Building #112
Albany, NY 12211

Email address: uscustom94@gmail.com

Attention Beneficiary

We have been instructed to release your Consignment Box containing the
sum of $3.5million,under the Unit of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection seized, which has been in our custody for a long time, due
to your inability to provide the Clearance certificates, which you
were asked to obtain from Africa were the fund was Originated from.

You are very lucky after our investigation last month the US
Department of States instructed that we should release to the
beneficiaries all the fund being held under our custody, even the fund
and some items that was seized by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security & IMF -- International Monetary Fund are here now in our
custody, so you are hereby advice to come to this office in order to
claim your fund immediately.

Furthermore you are advised to comply with the instructions herein
stated without delay.
Find below the office address:

U.S. Custom and Border Protection.
Albany International Airport
Federal Inspection Service (FIS)
6 Jetway Drive
Building #112
Albany, NY 12211
Reply to this Email address: uscustom94@gmail.com

Urgent get back to us.

Faithfully Yours,
John P. Torres
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations

The information in this e-mail and any attached files is CONFIDENTIAL and may be legally privileged or prohibited from disclosure and unauthorised use.
It is intended solely for the addressee and the views of the author may not necessarily reflect those of the Company.
If you have received this message in error please return it to the sender then delete the email and destroy any copies of it.
If you are not the intended recipient, any form of reproduction, dissemination, copying, disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication or
any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon this message or its attachments is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of Only World Group Holdings Berhad shall be
understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam