419 scam: FedEx Head Office <fedex_deliveryunit@zoho.com> Dear Esteemed-Customer

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("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)
- "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: FedEx Head Office <fedex_deliveryunit@zoho.com>
Reply-To: fedex.deliveryunit@zoho.com
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 23:46:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Esteemed-Customer

Â Â

FedEx Head Office, 70
International Airport Road, Mafoluku, Cotonou Benin
RepublicÂ Â Â
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Welcome To FedEx
International- We Are Always At Your
Service
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â Dear Esteemed-CustomerÂ

Â
I am a Diplomat named Dr.Â Uwandu Colgate
from FedEx International Cotonou Benin Republic, I wish to notify you that your
consignment with the registration number B # FD57-BC59-01 containing the sum of
US$3.5million which you been expecting to received so far has been arrived in
USA
Â
I am presently at Los Angeles International Airport in
California, here in the United States of America, Iâ€™m having
a little problem here with Airport Authorities,intercepting the Consignment Box
with regards to the Customs United States of America, due Diplomatic Immunity
Customs Clearance Certificate, which is delaying my coming to your above
address.
Â
I will proceed with the delivery once I
conclude with the Customs Los Angeles International Airport,United States of
America, due the Diplomatic Immunity Customs Clearance Certificate of the
consignment Box?Â I have instruction that the consignment Box should not be
opened or scanned at any point of entry.
Â
Consequently, the Customs
Los Angeles International Airport
Authorities, United States of America, they are very serious about Diplomatic
Immunity Customs Clearance Certificate. They guess it must obtain first, before
I will connect to your place with the consignment box. At the moment I have
negotiated with the Los Angeles International Airport
Customs Authorities to allow me in with the consignment box, but they
refused.
Â
I asked the man in charge Mr.Jack Thomas the reason of all this
delay because the entire necessary documents is complete and this package has
been on transits in PARIS FRANCE and the authority over
there did not demand for such certificate and he did not detailed the reasonable
answer than its illegal to enter the country with the Diplomatic Immunity
Customs Clearance Certificate otherwise they will inspect the consignment since
is sending from individual to individual.
Â
They now directed me to
contact the origin of the consignment box to get the clearance and I have also
contacted Benin Republic Customs Services and
they said that it will cost you the sum of $110.00.
Â
Please note that
Diplomatic Immunity Customs Clearance Certificate is very needed right now to
obtain from Benin Republic Customs Services,to enable me get out through customs
at Los Angeles International Airport Customs, USA and locate to your home
address.
Â
Quickly reached me via email address, due the needed sum of
$110.00 and send it immediately through western union with the name below, so
that they can obtain the required Diplomatic Immunity Customs Clearance
Certificate to enable me connect to your home address.
Â
Send the sum of
$110.00, direct to Benin Republic Customs Service office.
Â
Send the
$110.00 To them through this information.
Â
Receiver Name __Frank
Okechukwu
Country__ Benin
Republic
City__Cotonou
Amount __ $110, 00
Question__What
For?
Answer__Clearance
Â
Quickly send across the $110.00 to Customs
Services office in Benin as soon as possible to enable me arrange the Diplomatic
Immunity Customs Clearance Certificate of the consignment Box as to assure that
the delivery is completed a.s.a.p.Â
Â
Â Â Â
Yours In Service.
Dr. Uwandu Colgate

Â Delivery Department
FedEx International

Cotonou Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam