419 scam: "MRS.HELEN OBALAKU" <offdek----01737373@att.net> GREETING FROM USA EMBASSY,THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRES

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 advice 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS.HELEN OBALAKU" <offdek----01737373@att.net>
Reply-To: uscustomsandborder12@globomail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:15:22 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GREETING FROM USA EMBASSY,THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE   REAU OF CONSULARAFFAIRSWASHINGTON, DC
20520

GREETING FROM USA
EMBASSY,THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS.

DEAR FRIEND.

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 CONSIGNMENT
BOX WHICH COURIER COMPANY SUPPOSE TO DELIVER TO YOU WHICH WAS ON HOLD BY US
DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU AND REQUESTING FOR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH WILL
BE OBTAIN FROM THE ORIGINATION OF THE CONSIGNMENT BOX BEFORE IT WILL BE
RELEASED.AS A RESULT OF YOU NOT COMPLY WITHIN DURATION GIVEN BY BENIN
GOVERNMENT THAT IS THE REASON THE CONSIGNMENT BOX WAS DIVERTED TO TREASURY.

ALL THE WELFARE OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN AND ALL PART OF EUROPE
INCLUDING ASIA, AUSTRALIA,
SOUTH AMERICA, ANTARCTICA E.T.C IS MY COSINE.
AM HERE TO TAKE THE PROTOCOL OF ALL OUR CITIZENS TO NOT BE CHEATED BY AFRICANS.
AFTER THE MEETING HELD BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTOR WHICH WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE
DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE WITHIN THREE
WORKING DAYS UPON YOUR COMPLY TO OUR REQUIREMENT WHICH IS BY SENDING THE SUM OF
$68USD TO ENABLE US OBTAIN THE NEEDED CERTIFICATE AND EFFECT WITH THE DELIVERY
OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY. NOTE THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX HAS BEEN
ARRIVED IN US EMBASSY AND WAITING TO RECEIVE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE BEFORE THE GATE PASS
IS GIVEN. MEAN WHILE YOU ARE ADVICE TO RECONFIRM THE BELOW INFORMATION UPON
CONTACTING US TO AVOID DELIVERY TO WRONG PERSON.

1, YOUR FULL NAME

2, YOUR HOME ADDRESS

3, YOUR OCCUPATION4, DIRECT TELEPHONE
NUMBER5, A COPY OF YOUR ID

ONCE YOU NOTIFY US WITH THE ABOVE
INFORMATION WE WILL RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOU,

CONTACT THE EMBASSY OFFICE DIRECT WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW,

NOTE THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PAY ONLY $68.00 FOR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
AND YOU ARE TO PAY IT TO BENIN REPUBLIC AS THE ORIGINATION OF THE CONSIGNMENT
BOX IN FAVOUR OF MR. EJIKE PETER, AS OUR ACCOUNTANT OFFICER IN
BENIN REPUBLIC SEND THE $68USD THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM ONCE YOU
RECEIVE THIS MAIL WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR
CONSIGNMENT BOX,

RECEIVER NAME: EJIKE PETER

ADDRESS: BENIN REPUBLIC

CITY;
COTONOU

AMOUNT :
$68

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

ONCE YOU SEND THE MONEY,TRY TO NOTIFY
US WITH THE MTCN FOR EASY PICK UP AND FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE RELEASE OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT.

PLEASE TREAT THIS AS MATTER OF URGENCY.

NOTE THAT ANY UNCLEAN 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 WE WILL

RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT...

MRS.HELEN OBALAKU

TEL: +1 914 512 5825

MOBILE:+194 9949 5135

FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam