419 scam: "Diplomat John Dankuwa." <westernunionmntrnsfr89@gmail.com> PACKAGE CONFISCATION NOTIFICATION LETTER

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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. )
- "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: "Diplomat John Dankuwa." <westernunionmntrnsfr89@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomat_john_dankuw@globomail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:51:41 +0530 (IST)
Subject: PACKAGE CONFISCATION NOTIFICATION LETTER

From: Alan Bersin

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 John Dankuwa. 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 $2.500,000.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 West Africa and we have contacted the relevant EFCC
enquire about the process of getting the Certificate TO AVOID ANY
DELAY.We were informed that the beneficiary of the package will pay for
the Certificate and the cost of this documentaion $$571.96 Dollars, You
have to pay this fee directly to us via Western Union Money Transfer in
the name stated below to enable us pay direct to them to avoid any more
delay because we will soon go for the xmas holiday:

Receiver: Okechukwu Chibike

Country: Benin Republic

City : Cotonou

Amount : $70usd

Question: Thank

Answer : My God

Sender :

Mtcn :

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 West
Africa 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

Alan Bersin

PACKAGE CONFISCATION NOTIFICATION LETTER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam