419 scam: "Mrs.Helen Mary"<mrshelen@live.com> YOUR FUNDS ARE READY FOR SHIPMENT CONTACT..MR ROB HILL Tel:+234-806-728-0222

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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:
- "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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "the 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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +2348067280222 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Helen Mary" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robhill1960@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:29:49 +0100
Subject: YOUR FUNDS ARE READY FOR SHIPMENT CONTACT..MR ROB HILL Tel:+234-806-728-0222

Customers Service Hours--Monday to Saturday:
Office Hours Monday to Saturday:
Your Consignment

Re: Beneficiary,

We have been waiting for you to contact me for your Trunk Box worth
$1,650,000.00 (One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States
Dollars), being compensation fund for 150 scam victims, but I did not hear from
you all this while.

I have deposited the Trunk Box with COURIER SERVICE, West Africa, I traveled
out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not be back until completion
of my 3 months course. What you have to do now is to contact the COURIER
SERVICE immediately to know when they will deliver your consignment to you
because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charge, Insurance premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee of the consignment showing that it is not a Drug
Money or meant to sponsor Terrorism attack in your Country. The only money you
will send to the COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Trunk Box direct to your
postal Address in your country is US$200USD only being Security Keeping Fee of
the Courier Company so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any
other money except US$200USD.

I would have paid that but they refused, because they don't know when you
will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the COURIER
SERVICE now for the delivery of your Trunk Box with this information below:

For Managments
Mr. Rob Hill
Tel Phone: +234-806-728-0222
Email:robhill1960@yahoo.cn

Reconfirm the below information to the agent:

1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:
4. Identification:
5. Country

You can make the payment Via Western Union Or Money Gram Transfer to the below
information and also call call him with his Directly number to giv him the
payment Information: Call him with his Office Number+234-806-728-0222

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Receiver's Name: Rob Hill
Receivr's Address:LAGOS NIGERIA.
Amount US$200USD.
Text Question: HOW ARE YOU?
Text Answer: FINE.
MTCN: ??
After making the payment you are to send the Below information to me:

Sender's Name:
Sender's Address:
MTCN Number:???????????????????

Once payment is made with the above information,endeavour to send ne the Money
Transfer Control Number (MTCN) Sender's name and address for collection.Then
your fund can be release to your nominated bank account with out any further
delay.
As soon as these information is received your percel will be paid for and will
be delivered to you without further delay.

Request for the tracking number of the Trunk Box to enable you track and know
when it will get to your address.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them immediately you receive this mail to
avoid any further delay and remember to pay the Security Keeping fee of
USUS$200USD for their immediate action. You should also let me know through email
as soon as you receive your consignment. Below is an attached copy of your trunk
box.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs.Helen Mary

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam