419 scam: "U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service" <stephenonasanya@gmail.com> Greetings from USA I.R.S,Your contract payment with reference number 2661428

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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:

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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "million dollars" (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)
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.
- mr.douglasshulman@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service" <stephenonasanya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:21:03 -0700
Subject: Greetings from USA I.R.S,Your contract payment with reference number 2661428

Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
Greetings from USA I.R.S,
Contact person: Mr.Douglas H.Shulman
Email: mr.douglasshulman@gmail.com

We write to inform you that your package which contain about $3.4
million dollars cash been your payment from Nigeria Government,with
reference number 2661428 has been in Customs facility custody waiting
for resolutions of the clearance to further the delivery to your
delivery address by the delivery Agent who came all the way from
Africa.

We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment
box which the agent suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by
USA Customs Department and they are requesting for clearance
certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the
consignment box before it will be released from the Customs to the
delivery agent to complete the delivery.

After the phone call we made on your behalf to the USA Customs
Authority and the Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was
resolved that the delivery of your consignment to your address must
be complete within three (3) working days upon your compliance to our
directives; You should send the sum of $670.00 usd to obtain the
needed Ownership-clearance certificate from Nigeria.

The clearance charges which was initially on the high price has
been cut down by the US Embassy in Nigeria considering the poor
economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class
citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement.

We will upon the confirmation of your clearing charge assign our
Diplomat Agent (Mr. James Smith) to travel to USA and collect your
package and proceed with the delivery. Meanwhile you are advice to
reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery
to wrong person after obtaining the needed Ownership-clearance
certificate from Nigeria because that is what the Customs here are
waiting for.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Your Delivery Address:
3. Your Contact Telephone Number:
4. Your Fax Number:
5. Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card number):

Once you notify us with the above information and the needed
Ownership-clearance certificate from Federal Republic of Nigeria, the
USA Customs will release your consignment to you and it will be
delivered to you by the agent, You can contact us with the following
information,

Contact person: Mr.Douglas Shulman
Email: (mr.douglasshulman@gmail.com)

Note that you are expected to pay only $670.00 usd for
Ownership-clearance certificate and you are to pay it to Nigeria as
the origination of the package in favor of MR. CHUKWUEMEKA ALEKE as
our accountant officer in Nigeria Send the $670.00 usd through western
union once you receive this mail with the information below for
immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:............ CHUKWUEMEKA ALEKE
Country/City:..............Lagos Nigeria
Test Question:.............what city
Answer:....................Lagos
Amount:....................$670.00. usd

Once you send the money to Nigeria to the given name , please try
to notify us with the MTCN so that we can contact Mr. CHUKWUEMEKA
ALEKE, for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of
your Ownership-clearance certificate.

Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to Federal
Republic of Nigeria Treasury after 7days. So you are urgently
advised to comply with our directives so that the Customs will
release your consignment.

Yours Sincerely
Mr.Douglas H.Shulman
Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Service.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam