419 scam: "MS.ROSE DOSSOU" <eugeneokuluonu@yahoo.com.hk> GREETING FROM USA I.R.S,DATE: 06/04/2012.

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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. )
- "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)
- "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: "MS.ROSE DOSSOU" <eugeneokuluonu@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: rosedossou755@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 11:27:57 +0200 (EET)
Subject: GREETING FROM USA I.R.S,DATE: 06/04/2012.

U.S.A. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON , DC 20520
GREETING FROM USA I.R.S,DATE: 06/04/2012.

ATTENTION;BENEFICIARY,

WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PACKAGE 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 FOR 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 BENIN REPUBLIC, IT WAS RESOLVED THAT THE DELIVERY OF
YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE WITHIN TWO (2) WORKING
DAYS UPON YOUR COMPLIANCE TO OUR DIRECTIVES; YOU SHOULD SEND THE SUM OF
$88.00 USD TO OBTAIN THE NEEDED OWNERSHIP-CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM BENIN
REPUBLIC.

THE CLEARANCE CHARGES WHICH WAS INITIALLY ON THE HIGH PRICE HAS BEEN CUT
DOWN BY THE US EMBASSY IN BENIN REPUBLIC 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 CAMPBELL ) 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 BENIN REPUBLIC 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 OCCUPATION
5- YOUR IDENTIFICATION (PASSPORT NUMBER OR ID CARD NUMBER)

ONCE YOU NOTIFY US WITH THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND THE NEEDED
OWNERSHIP-CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM BENIN REPUBLIC, 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,

NOTE THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PAY ONLY $88.00 USD FOR OWNERSHIP-CLEARANCE
CERTIFICATE AND YOU ARE TO PAY IT TO BENIN REPUBLIC AS THE ORIGINATION OF
THE PACKAGE IN FAVOUR OF MRS IGBANUGO LAWRENCE N AS OUR ACCOUNTANT OFFICER
IN BENIN REPUBLIC SEND THE $88.00 USD THROUGH WESTERN UNION ONCE YOU
RECEIVE THIS MAIL WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR
PACKAGE,

RECEIVERS NAME:====Udoji E. Peter

COUNTRY/CITY:=======BENIN REPUBLIC
CITYADDRESS:======== COTONOU
TEST QUESTION:=======WHAT CITY
ANSWER: ===========COTONOU
AMOUNT:===========$88.00USD

ONCE YOU SEND THE MONEY TO BENIN REPUBLIC TO THIS NAME , PLEASE TRY TO
NOTIFY US WITH THE MTCN SO THAT WE CAN CONTACT MRS IGBANUGO LAWRENCE N 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 BENIN REPUBLIC
GOVERNMENT AFTER 6 DAYS.

SO YOU ARE URGENTLY ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH OUR DIRECTIVES SO THAT THE
CUSTOMS WILL RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT.

YOURS SINCERELY
MRS.ROSE DOSSOU

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam