419 scam: "USA. HomeLand Security Department" <usembassy_helpdesk@washington.usa.com> Bureau of Consular Affairs

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "are expected 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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (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)
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.
- +2299893555 (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.
- usembassyhelpdesk@washington.usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "USA. HomeLand Security Department" <usembassy_helpdesk@washington.usa.com>
Reply-To: usembassyhelpdesk@washington.usa.com
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 10:25:24 +0000
Subject: Bureau of Consular Affairs

*U.S.A. HomeLand Security Department.
**Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , M 20520
Greeting from USA Embassy,*
*Date 7/12/2010.*
*THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS.

*
* US EMBASSY NOTICE BORAD*

*THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT HAS BEEN IN OUR CUSTODY WAITING
FOR YOUR COMPLY BEFORE THE DELIVERY WILL BE EFFECTED TO YOUR DELIVERY
ADDRESS. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US REGARDING YOUR ATM MASTER
CARD WORTH ($870,000) WHICH YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO RECEIVE EARLIER LAST MONTH
AND WAS ON HOLD BY US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU BESIDES YOU WHERE GIVEN A
BILL $800 FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH WILL BE OBTAIN TO BACK UP THE
DELIVERY AS A RESULT OF YOU NOT COMPLY WITHIN DURATION GIVEN BY
BENINGOVERNMENT THAT IS THE REASON THE ATM MASTER CARD WAS DIVERTED TO
TREASURY
UNIT.

ALL THE WELFAR OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN IS MY CONCERN AM HERE TO TAKE THE
PROTOCOL OF ALL OUR CITIZENS NOT TO BE CHEATED BY AFRICANS. AFTER THE
MEETING HELD BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTOR WHICH WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE DELIVERY
OF YOUR ATM CARD TO YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 48HRS AT LEAST,
MONDAY MORNING. HENCE THIS OFFICE IS NOW OFFERING A SPECIAL BONUS TO HELP
ALL OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE HAVING THEIR CONSIGNMENTS IN OUR CUSTODY DUE TO
OF PRICE, IN ORDER WORDS WE ARE NOW REQUESTING THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY PAY THE
SUM OF $75 TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM MASTER CARD ABADONED IN OUR CUSTODY. UPON
YOUR COMPLY WITH OUR REQUIREMENT WHICH IS BY SENDING THE SUM OF $75.00 TO
ENABLE US OBTAIN THE NEEDED CERTIFICATES AND EFFECT THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM
CARD IMMEDIATELY.

NOTE THAT YOUR ATM MASTER CARD HAS BEEN ARRIVED IN US EMBASSY AND WAITING TO
RECEIVE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES BEFORE THE GATE PASS IS GIVEN. MEANWHILE YOU
ARE ADVISE TO RECONFIRM THE BELOW INFORMATION’S UPON CONTACTING US TO AVOID
DELIVERY TO THE WRONG PERSON.

1, YOUR FULL NAME:
2, YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3, YOUR OCCUPATION:
4, DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:

ONCE YOU NOTIFY US WITH THE ABOVE INFORMATION’S WE WILL RELEASE YOUR
CONSIGNMENT TO YOU, CONTACT THE EMBASSY OFFICE DIRECT WITH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION BELOW,

CONTACT PERSON, MS. STELLA BUSH
PHONE +2299893555*
*EMAIL: usembassyhelpdesk@washington.usa.com<http://us.mc454.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=usembassyhelpdesk@washington.usa.com>
*
**
*NOTE THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PAY ONLY $75.00 FOR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE AND
YOU ARE TO PAY IT TO BENIN REPUBLIC AS THE ORIGINATION OF THE CONSIGNMENT
BOX. SEND THE $75.00 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS
MAIL WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT
BOX,

RECEIVERS NAME:?????????? CHIDI CHRISTOPHER
COUNTRY: ?????????? BENIN REPUBLIC
STATE: ??????? COTONOU
TEST QUESTION:?????????? GOOD
ANSWER:?????????? MORNING

ONCE YOU SEND THE MONEY, TRY TO NOTIFY US WITH THE MTCN# AND THE SENDER'S
NAME FOR EASY PICK UP AND FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE RELEASE OF YOUR
CONSIGNMENT. PLEASE TREAT THIS AS MATTER OF URGENCY. NOTE THAT ANY UNCLAIMED
CONSIGNMENT WILL BE RETURN TO THE COURIER COMPANY AFTER 3 DAYS FOR FINAL
DIVERSION. SO YOU ARE URGENTLY ADVICE TO COMPLY WITH OUR DEMAND SO THAT YOUR
ATM MASTER CARD WILL BE AMONG THOSE THAT WILL BE DELIVERED MONDAY MORNING.

NOTE: THIS IS THE ONLY PAYMENT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE IN THIS REGARDS FOR
EVERY OTHER FEE HAVE BEEN WAIVED OFF BY THE FEDERAL MINISTRY BENIN.
SECONDLY, THIS IS THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS DELIVERY. AS SOON AS THE
CERTIFICATES IS SECURED ON YOUR BEHALF, YOUR ATM MASTER CARD WILL BE
DELIVERED TO YOU WITHOUT ANY MORE DELAYS.

REGARDS,
DR. MOORE FRAZER,
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF U.S STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS
FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam