419 scam: INTERNPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT <douglashull38@yahoo.com.ph> YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED FROM FROM INTERNPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT

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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. )
- "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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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: INTERNPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT <douglashull38@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: internpolpoliceforceunit@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:38:38 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED FROM FROM INTERNPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT

from Interpol police force unit.

gtd road abi Cotonou Republique du Benin:

Heathrow international airport command, London, united kingdom

fax: 22-20-80-88 92 rc-32657,

(Interpol)rc-32657, Heathrow international airport command, Mr. Hilary
Owen. call.( code number ) ( bj/xxl14160london, unitedkingdomrc32657,
Heathrow international airport command, Benin republic p honefax:22
20-80-88 92;rc-32657 email (we are proud of our image and our prayer
is to god give us more knowledge for our duty, god bless Interpol)

attention: dear beneficiary,

this is to bring it to your notice that the international police Benin
branch west Africa ( Interpol) are here by official inform you that
the federal government of Benin republic has instructed us to carry
on the investigation concerning the business transaction that you are
having over here in the Africa and after our investigation consultant
with west Africa monetary institute ( wami ) so every investigation
concerning your fund was handed over to us per the meeting that was
going on for pass 7 days which ended today,

confidential note ; we are here to official inform you that our means
have go to western today and secure the cheque from the office of
western union money transfer agency that suppose to transfer the fund
to you through their western union office as it result that the cheque
is very huge amount of money to be transfer through western union money
transfer ,so the cheque is now in our custody.

as result, be inform that the cheque is now on our custody and we
decided to deliver the cheque to you via courier company so that you
will receive your fund immediately with out any further delaying for
you to not have any problem with any office or department that is
monetary your fund as we are concern on this matter,

now, all you have to do now is to meet up with our request so that we
can release your cheque and delivery it to your door step immediately
with out having any other problem but the only thing that holding your
fund here is that you have to re-confirm to us your full information
where to send the cheque to you and you have to come up with the
delivery service charge which is $105.00 dollars only for safe
delivering you are here advice to urgently send to us the delivery
service charge that must to pay by the beneficial as which is $105.oo
usd and your full information as below so that you will receive your
cheque immediately

your full name

your delivery address

your direct phone number

and you have to send the money with the name of our agent on the
information below through any western union money transfer agency or
money gram,

receivers::::::::::::::::::::: Nkechikwulu c. Raphael

country::::::::::::::::::::::: :Benin republic

city:::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::cotonou

test question ::::::::::::god

test answer::::::::::::::::bless

amount :::::::::::::::::::::::::::$105.00

mtcn:::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::

do send to us the payment information immediately you sent the money for the purpose of delivery charge only needed.

Interpol police force, in partnership with the federal bureau of
investigation (fbi), is working towards the recovery of funds and
return of stolen assets. this project allows Interpol to actively
engage national law enforcement bodies in co-ordinated efforts to
trace, seize, confiscate and return public funds to victim countries
and individuals. be rest assured that upon receipt of the above
information and the delivering fee of $105.00. usd, we will proceed in
delivering of your consignment box to you immediately. for security
reasons endeavour to indicate this ( code number ) ( bj/xxl14160) this
code shows that you are the rightful owner of the consignment box, your
consignment box contains $2.500,000.00 usd.

Interpol regional office Benin

office in charge; supp. Mr. Hilary Owen, call fax: 22-20-80-88
92;rc-32657, or contact Mr. Hilary Owen. immediately you made the
payment as bellow

thanks and god bless

Mr. Hilary Owen.

telephone; +229.98465813

from Interpol police force unit.

gtd road abi cotonou republique du benin:

fax: 22-20-80-88 92;rc-32657,

Heatthrow international Airport command,london,united kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam