419 scam: Us Custom And Home Land Security <johnfrank-----06@att.net> A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "uscustomsecurityheadquarter@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22996282749 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Us Custom And Home Land Security <johnfrank-----06@att.net>
Reply-To: uscustomsecurityheadquarter@qatar.io
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:52:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

From: Jayson Ahern; CBP Headquarters Office of Public Affairs 1300

Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Room 3.4A Washington, DC 20229.

E-mail (uscustomsecurityheadquarter@qatar.io)

Attention Beneficiary,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your affirmation and to inform you of the latest development as regards the delivery of your consignment package by the Diplomat Kennedy Hunter. While scanning the package, our cash track machine detected that the content of the package the Diplomat is delivering to you is cash worth the sum of USD $1.5M, One Million Five Hundred United States Dollars, It is a crime to bring in money (over US$10,000) into the United States of America without proper documentations and clearance because it shows that the money is either being smuggled into the country or the source of the funds is questionable.

It is very important that all the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source of the funds are provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in accordance with the PATRIOT ACT so that the FBI,IRS and Homeland Security will not come knocking at your door. In line of the above, It is therefore mandatory that you provide the Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) to prove that the funds have no links with any form of illegality. Being the beneficiary of the Package, the Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) is the only way of confirming the source of the funds and it is your responsibility to provide the Certificate before the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery To You Tomorrow.

The Diplomat's Flight Details shows that he came from Benin Republic and we have contacted the relevant Authorities in that country to enquire about the

process of getting the Certificate. We were informed that the beneficiary of the package will pay for the Certificate and the cost of this documentation $125 Dollars, You have to pay this fee directly to them via Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Gram in the name stated below:

Receiver Name: Mr.Joseph Udezue

Country Benin Republic.

Amount $125 US Dollars

Text Question. Country Code

Answer.+229

Mtcn..........

Sender Name.......

Upon the receipt of the payment information, the Certificate will be made out in your name by the Cotonou Republique Du Benin Authority, scanned and send

immediately via email to us so that the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of your package to you tomorrow. Failure to pay for this documentation is a confirmation that you wanted to smuggle the funds into the country which is a federal offense and across violation of the Patriot Act.It is therefore in your best interest that you pay for the Certificate as instructed immediately as the consequences of refusing is very severe.

Mr. Jayson Ahern

A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Or You call the Management Director

of the Courier Service +22996282749

Dr Ander Jeffered

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam