419 scam: "U.S. Customs and Border Protec" <lujadi@verizon.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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S. Customs and Border Protec" <lujadi@verizon.net>
Reply-To: uscustomsandb@w.cn
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:49:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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Attention--Attention--Attention,

From: Jayson Ahern

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
Hilary
Kalu.

While scanning the package,our cashtrac machine detected
that the
content of the package the Diplomat is delivering to you is cash worth
the sum
of USD $8.500,000.

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 lieu 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 his
ID card
is attached 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 documentaion $380 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:Mrs. Ameka E.
Chukwunonso

Address: Benin Republic

City; Cotonou

Amount : $380

Question & Answer, What For,
My
Belonging

After
paying the Fee,send the following payment information

1. Sender's Name
and Address

2. MTCN
Number

3. Text Question
& Answer

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 offence and a gross 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.

Yours
Faithfully,

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

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam