419 scam: "U.S Department" <jame.speter@hotmail.com> Greeting from USA Embassy,

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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:
- "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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "united_statembassy0@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S Department" <jame.speter@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: united_statembassy0@live.com
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 03:28:43 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Greeting from USA Embassy,

U.S.
Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington
, DC 20520
Greeting from USA
Embassy,

THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS
E-MAIL ADDRESS

Good
Day.

This is to notify you that your package has been in our
custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your
home address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your package
that FedEx Express suppose to deliver to your home address which was put on hold
by US Department of State Bureau requesting for clearance certificate which will
be obtained from the origination country of the package before it will be
released/subsequent delivery to your home address.

After the
meeting held by our board of directors which was concluded that the delivery of
your package to your address must be completed within five working days upon
your comply to our requirements which is by sending the sum of $155.00 to enable
us obtain the needed certificate and effect the delivery of your package
immediately.

Note that your package has been arrived in US
embassy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is
given.

Meanwhile, you are adviced to reconfirm your below
address information upon
contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong
person.
=================================================
Full
name:
Address:
Phone
number:
=================================================
Once
you notify us with the above information we will release/deliver your package
to you.

You can contact us on the contact name and e-mail address
below,
Contact person, Dr.  Michael Eddis
EMAIL: united_statembassy0@live.com

Note that you are expected to
pay only $$155.00 for the clearance certificate and you are to pay it to Benin
Republic as the origination country of the package in favour of Udoji
Chukwumae our accountant officer in Benin Republic, get back to Us as soon as
you have sent the clearance certificate fee of $$155 and also reconfirm your
address information above.

Send the $$155.00 through western
union once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate
release/delivery of your package.

Receivers Name: Udoji
Chukwumae
City/Country: Cotonou
- Benin Republic.
Code      : 00229
Test Question: Today
Answer
: Today Today
Amount: $$155.00

Once you send the money, try to notify
us through e-mail with the MTCN for easy pick up by our accountant in Benin
Republic and for immediate action on the release/delivery of your
package.

Please treat this as matter of urgency
.

Note that any uncliamed package will be
returned to FedEx EXpress courier company ltd after 5 days of this
notice.

So you are urgently advised to
comply with our demands so that we will release your
consignment.

Hon. Jeffry Jain
Public Relation Officer United State
Embassy.
FROM UNITED STATE EMBASSY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam