419 scam: "Dr.Linda Williams" <tfdepartmentng@9.cn> FROM HEAD DEPARTMENT: DR.LINDA WILLIAMS AND ROBERT S.

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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. )
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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: "Dr.Linda Williams" <tfdepartmentng@9.cn>
Reply-To: barr.williamsdedward42@9.cn
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:24:55 +0900 (KST)
Subject: FROM HEAD DEPARTMENT: DR.LINDA WILLIAMS AND ROBERT S.

From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams and Robert S.

Mueller
IIIAnti-Terrorist and MonetaryCrimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington,
D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
FBI-Washington Field Office
601
4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20535
Website: www.fbi.gov

Attn: Beneficiary

From Head Department: Dr.Linda Williams and
Robert S. Mueller III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI. Washington
DC, This is to notify you that your consignment has been in our custody waiting,
The Inspection Unit United Nations Heartfield International Airport Atlanta
Georgia discovered this abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from Benin Republic
under courier company and it was transferred from JF Kennedy Airport to our
facility here and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a
Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 110kg.

Meanwhile, base on our
interview to the JF Kennedy International Airport custom he said that the
consignment box belongs to you but the diplomat don't know the contents of the
Box. the courier company registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths.diplomat
don't know know it contains money. The consignment was abandoned because of
Award Ownership Certificate showing that the money is not illegal.

Note, that the
Award Ownership Certificate must to be secured from the office of the Federal
ministry of justic, because that is the only office that will issue you the
original Award Ownership Certificate of this fund, Due to my position in service
i called the Embassy shipping service head quarter of Benin and i made a
complain to them in regard to the Award Ownership Certificate and i also told
that it will cost you the sum of $98. 00 Once we confirm the original Award
Ownership Certificate of this fund

we will release
your consignment to you, The Certificate charges which was initially on the high
price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor
economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet
up with the clearance of their entitlement.

Contact the
Embassy Office Direct with the following information Below and send the money
to help you secure the Award Ownership Certificate, We are to inform you that
your Consignment Package is among the 15 packages listed for immediate dispatch
which is now in our office,

Contact person,
Mr. Fedrick Bush
Email (barr.williamsdedward42@9.cn)

Tthe boxes contain
more that $3 to 4M and the consignment, The Consignment here are metal box with
weight of about 110kg each (Internal dimension: W61 x H156 x D73 (cm).
Effective capacity: 680 L.)Approximately,

Note that you are expected to
pay only $98.00 for and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination
of the consignment box in favour of Mr.Paul Onyi accountant officer Embassy
Benin Republic, Send the $98.00 through western union or Money Gram once you
receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your
consignment box,

Approved Name:___
Mr.Paul Onyi
Country___ Benin Republic.
City______Cotonou
Text
Question__What is good?
Answer________Wealth
Amount_______ $98.
00

The details of the
consignment including your name are tagged on the Metal Trunk box. So you are
urgently advise to comply with our demand so that we will release your
consignment for the boxes to be moved out of this
Airport to your address for
onward delivery.

From Head
Department: Dr.Linda Williams and Robert S. Mueller IIIAnti-TerroristWASHINGTON
DCAnti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington,
D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation

FBI
Director

Robert S. Mueller,III

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam