419 scam: "TNT"<info@admin.org> Funds

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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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!
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.
- +2348033000151 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "TNT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tnt.postservice@auto.lt>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:38:05 -0700
Subject: Funds

I Mr. Allen George, your Claim facilitator officer, have been directed to release your payment cheque to you as soon as possible immediately I receive your email.

This is to formerly inform you that after the verification process conducted on your duly completed award Prize Verification Form, I wish to inform you that the Administrative department has just approved and referred your claim file to our affiliate company, TNT Courier Services, so that your Prize Winning Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you by postal mail service but you shall bear the cost of courier delivery of your cheque and Prize Winning Certificate.
These Draws are commemorative and as such special. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Africa booklet representative in West Africa as indicated in your play coupon, In view of this, your US$ 500. 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) cheque would be released to you in our West Africa Payment Office,

Our Delivery Officer in our West Africa Payment Office would be delivering your cheque to you through TNT Courier to your respective city or locations in your country. He would need your personal data's which is your billing address such as;
• Phone number:...........
• Postal address..............

Mailing &n bsp;………………..$30
Insurance…………………………$65
Vat …………………………………$50
TOTAL……………………………. $145

• TNT Courier Delivery Fee of US$145 dollars.

Send the delivery fees through Western Union Money Transfer or MONEYGRAM International Money Transfer, payment should go to the company account officer via E-mail.
Find below the details of the payment receiver:

Receiver's Name: GEOFFERY COLE
ADDRESS: 223, Dutse way, Wuse Zone 1,
Jos,Nigeria.
TEST QUESTION: White
ANSWER: Red.

You are to send the following payment informations to my office Via E-mail: tnt.postservice@auto.lt
1) Name and Address of sender.........................?
2) Amount sent:.................?
3) Money transfer control number (MTCN)....................?
4) Location were money was sent from:...........................?
5) TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER:....................................?

This will enable us facilitate the release of your winning certificate and the cheque.

We congratulate you as one of the Microsoft award International Online Sweepstakes Lottery Winner.

N.B: Your winning Award Certificate would be sent with your Cheque. Hence, without the winning certificate presented at your local bank, you won’t be able to claim the money and it might cause a lot of delay as this is a crossed cheque. You can receive the money in any country in the world.

Thanks for your cooperation. Note, it is not possible for me to deduct the TNT DELIVERY fee from your winning cheque because it has been issued and sent to me by the general overseer Mrs. Susan Lars, in conjunction with the A.B.N AMRO Bank financial, also it is a financial instrument only written in your name for withdrawal purposes and not in form of physical cash that could warrant deduction of fees for services.So In this case you are required to pay this fee to get your winning cheque as soon as possible.

Please note that on no condition or circumstance must you reveal your winning ticket number to any one for this organization shall not by in anyway be held responsible for double claiming/missappropriation of funds. You have to keep your winning information secret until you are done. Call me at: +2348033000151

Thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Allen George,
MICROSOFT.
Contact E-mail-: tnt.postservice@auto.lt

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam