419 scam: "Mr. Victor C. Brown" <lorrienorton03@yahoo.com> =?utf-8?B?VVJHRU5UIENPTlRBQ1QgVVBTIENPTVBBTlkgTk9X4oCP?=

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.
- unitedpsbenin34@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Victor C. Brown" <lorrienorton03@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: unitedpsbenin34@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:50:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?VVJHRU5UIENPTlRBQ1QgVVBTIENPTVBBTlkgTk9X4oCP?=

Attention Beneficiary,
Â
This is to Officially inform you
that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly completed an Investigated
with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you are having
an transaction Consignment Box filed with united state dollars which is on held
at custody of New York City police department,
Â
During our Investigation, it came to our notice that the reason why
you have not received your package fund is because you have not obtain your
Award Insurance Certificate which the agent confirmed that it will cost you the
sum of $90 to obtain the document on your behalf before the diplomat will
accompany your consignment to your door step as soon as you made the
payment,
Â
Since the Department of Homeland Security (UPS) has been involved
in this transaction, you are now to be rest assured that this transaction is
legitimate and completely risk-free as it is our duty to Protect and Serve
citizens of the United States Of America.
Â
All you have to do is immediately contact UPS COMPANY via E-mail
for instructions obtain your Certificate and send it to New York City police
Department to enable them release your consignment box to the agent service,
Kindly look.Â
Â
Below to find appropriate contact information:
Name: Mr. Victor
C. Brown.
Email :( unitedpsbenin34@yahoo.fr )
Â
This is the the contains details on how you will use to make the
payment.

RECEIVE NAME:::::::::::::::TANSI JOHN
OBIEDO
COUNTRY:::::::::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:::::::::::::::COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION::::::;;
BELIEVE
ANSWER:::::::::::::Â MY WORD
Amount:::::::::::::::$90.00Â Â

Therefore you
will be required to send the required fee to Benson Michael, who is the rightful
person you are suppose to deal with in regards of this Certificate via Western
Union Money Transfer or Money Gram International Transfer. In order to enable
his Agent proceed towards delivery of your consignment Box Once you have sent
the required fee to Nwaekwu Bejamin, he will obtain your Certificate without any
further delay,
Â
You have hereby been authorized/guaranteed by the Department of Homeland
Security (UPS) to commence towards completing this transaction, as there shall
be NO delay once payment for the Approval Insurance Certificate has been made to
the authorized agent.
Â
This letter will serve as proof that the Department of Homeland Security
(UPS) is authorizing you to pay the required US$90.00 ONLY to Mr. Nwaekwu
Bejamin, if you do not receive your Consignment Box containing your funds we
shall be held the agent responsible Once you have completed payment of US$90.00
to the Mr. Nwaekwu Bejamin charge of this transaction, immediately contact me
back so as to ensure your consignment box gets to you rapidly.

Mr. Victor C. Brown.
Special UPS
Management

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam