419 scam: "Mr.Tamous Holy," <officefille1988@gmail.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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "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)
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: "Mr.Tamous Holy," <officefille1988@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usaemabssy.officefille2011@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:52:31 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Greeting from USA Embassy,

Bureau of
Consular Affairs
Washington
, DC 22036
Greeting from USA
Embassy,
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR
THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS

ATTENTION:,

This is to
notify you that your consignment has been in our custody waiting for your comply
before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been
waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which Courier
Company suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department of State
Bureau and requesting for clearance
certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box
before it will be released. As a result of you not comply within duration given
by Benin
Government that is the reason the consignment box was diverted to
treasury.

All the walfare of United States Citizen is my
consine. Am here to take the protocol of all our citizens to not be cheated by
Africans.

After the meeting held by our board of director which was
concluded that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete
within three working days upon your comply to our requirement which is by
sending the sum of $298 to enable us obtain the needed certificate and effect
with the delivery of your consignment immediately.

Note that your
consignment box has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to receive clearance
certificate before the gate pass is given. Mean while you are advice to
reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong
person.

1, Your full name.................
2, Your home
address..........
3, Your occupation none,.......
4, Direct Telephone Number.
......

This is to inform you
that you we are still waiting for you to send the money today to enable is
delivery your package to you this week because this have take a long time and
you are still promise us that you are going to send the $298 to
us.

Therefore, we want you
to try your possible best today to make sure that you send the money today and
and please to fail to send the money today because i want you package to be
among those that will be leave this country by tommorrow
monerning.

Once you notify us with the above
information we will release your
consignment to you, Contact the Embassy
Office Direct with the following information Below, Contact person, Mr.Tamous
Holy

Note that you
are expected to pay only $298 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it to
Benin
Republic as the origination of the consignment box in favour of Mr.Pius
Akwuobi. our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the
$298 through western union or Money
Gram once you receive this mail with the
information below for immediate release of your consignment
box,

send the $298 with this
information Mr. Pius Akwuobi.

Receivers Name:====. Mr.Pius
Akwuobi

Country/City:=======Benin Republic
Test
Question:=======what city
Answer: ===========cotonou
Amount:===========$298.00.00usd

Once you send the
money, try to notify us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action
on the release of your consignment.

Please treat this
as matter of urgency .
Note that any uncliam consignment will be return
to the Courier
Company after 3 days for final divertion.

So you are
urgently advise to comply with our demand so that we will
release your
consignment.
Regard,

Mr.Tamous
Holy,
Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs
FROM UNITED
STATE OF
AMERICA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam