419 scam: "Dr. Elizabeth Ahmed" <officefileeeeeeeeeeeee@yahoo.pt> REFERENCE NUMBER: MB/12058006/013.

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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. )
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "huge sum of money" (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 united state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "dhl@dhlcc.net.tf" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- +22999600524 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- office.consultant101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Elizabeth Ahmed" <officefileeeeeeeeeeeee@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Dr. Elizabeth Ahmed" <office.consultant101@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 16:53:57 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REFERENCE NUMBER: MB/12058006/013.

MERCEDES BENZ
P.O. Box:Â Â Â Â 2 B.P. 1280 Cotonou-Benin Republic
REFERENCE NUMBER: MB/12058006/013.
SECRET PIN CODE: MB001113772.

Attention:,

We hereby use this medium to acknowledge the receipt of your claims requirement regarding the winning notification mail you received, informing you of the prize you have won courtesy MERCEDES BENZ NEW OF YEAR Anniversary Award Held in BENIN REPUBLIC, after due verification process was conducted I wish to inform you that the Administrative department and promotion department has just approved your payment of the tune of $10,000,000.00 USD (Ten Million United State Dollars.) A certified hard copy of the check of the said sum has been written out in your name, Your certificate of winnings and your form b1 (otherwise known as the clearance certificate) and alongside the key and the documents of your brand new Benz car has been compiled in parcel and sent to our affiliate security company (DHL Delivery Company) in your favor.

The security and cargo company will be responsible for the remittance of the entire winnings, and your Lottery Winnings documents which is of high importance to you, so I expect you to show great appreciation to Mercedes Automobile as a great firm haven been in existence for years and has single handedly made this promotion possible in other to promote the use of Mercedes Benz cars in every corner of the world through the means of the Internet as a global source of reaching people worldwide. in case you still have doubts arising from the angle of how you got selected, note that the selection process was carried out through an electronic email ballot system our aim was to select winners through the Internet which will be a much more easier way to select winners all around the universe due to the fact that only you alone have access to your email so have no fear , for you have emerged a winner as far as you are the original proprietor to the email account which you have received the winning notification letter as distributed by press secretary of this great prestigious promotion .

In furtherance, to begin the final step of the claim process, you are advised to contact the security firm (DHL Delivery Company) whose details are furnished below and they shall be responsible for onward delivery of your won prize to you.

The ( MERCEDEZ BENZ 2014 C-CLASS ) you have won, which is the main reason why this event was held will be shipped by our assigned cargo company personally to your current location once you meet with their demands and once your car get to your current destination their agent in your locality will invite you to claim the car with the shipment papers and car documents that is presently inside the package you have with the Security company and as soon as you present those documents on getting there and they have confirmed its authenticity, the Vehicle will be given to you without any further delay. So please make sure you contact the cargo company and provide them with their request so as to enable them ship your package, as your claims officer I will also be of great assistance to you so in case of any questions feel free to contact us anytime .

CONTACT:
Head Office:
Mr. Peter Innocent Director of DHL Delivery Company,
Tel: +229.613.17860, Fax. 229.613.17860
Contact e-mail: [office.consultant101@gmail.com]
Customers care e-mail:[dhl@dhlcc.net.tf]

Write to them immediately upon receipt of this mail without wasting time, Once again, keep us posted on any development with the cargo/security Company, in relation to your lottery winnings and kindly provide them with the following details to enable them facilitate the necessary documents in regards to the delivery of your winnings.

Name in full........................
Address.............................
Occupation..........................
Present Country.....................
Tel/fax.........................
Marital Status/Age.......................

For more information call
Mercedes Benz Automobile Company
Benin Republic
+229 99 600 524

Congratulations once again!!!

*** Warning to all esteemed winners, if you receive any lottery notification apart from this, stating that you have won some huge sum of money, Please disregard it because it is coming from a fraud network who are after your hard earned money. All hoax and scam emails should be forwarded to your claims processor for urgent legal action to be taken on it because this promotion is organized in collaboration with FBI, CIA, and Scotland fraud investigation bureau. So you have nothing to worry about and be rest assured that this lottery promotion is 100% risk and scam free. All winners are advised to stick and adhere to this instruction in other for them to have their winnings delivered to them in their various locations respectively. ***

Best Regards,
Dr. Elizabeth Ahmed
(Events Manager)

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Anti-fraud resources:

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