419 scam: British High Commission <aircouriercompay@yahoo.co.uk> FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- british.commission@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: British High Commission <aircouriercompay@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: british.commission@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:47:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION,
Metro Plaza, Plot 991/992,
Zakari Maillart Street
Cadastral Zone AO,
Central Business District.

Dear Friend,

The BRITISH High Commission in
Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Bokinafaso received a report of scam
against you and other British/US citizens and Malaysia,Etc.whom the
country of Nigeria/Benin,Bokinafaso And Ghana have compensated you due
to meeting held with Four countries Government and the world high
commissions against fraud activities by the Four country Citizens.

Your
name was among those that scammed as listed by the West Africa
Financial Intelligent Unit (WAFIU). Compensation has been issued out in
Certified ATM MASTER CARD worth of $950.000.00 USD to all the affected
victims and has been already in distribution to all the bearers. Your
ATM CARD was among those that were reported undelivered as at Monday and
we wish to advise you to see to the instructions of the Committee to
make sure you receive your ATM CARD immediately for your dispatch.

We
advise that you do the needful to
make sure the WAFIU dispatches your compensation before Saturday. You
are assured of the safety of your ATM CARD and availability and be
advised that you should stop further contacts with all the fake people
and fake security companies And and also Western Union scammers who is
collaboration scammed you.

So you are advice to contact the
lawyer in charges of this ATM MASTER CARD and his name is Barrister
Jerald Clinton and make sure you contact him immediately,

Name: Barrister Gerald Clinton. Contact E-mail Address(british.commission@yahoo.co.uk)

CHAMBER NUMBER.2103VC.

Contact
him with your full delivery information regarding of the ATM CARD to be
delivered to you by the Post/Mail service and also any beneficiary will
be responsible for Post/Mail fees so as to avoid any scam and the fees
is just only $59.00usd and you will receive your ATM CARD from British
High Commission because as soon as you contact the lawyer in charges of
your ATM CARD he will alert the united state bureau and in conjunction
with your state police for the ATM CARD to be Posted/Mailed to you
without any restriction and problem when the ATM CARD get to you in your
location area.

WAFIU further told us that the use of Nigeria
Couriers and the Benin was abolished due to interception activities
noticed in the above mentioned courier services in Nigeria, Nigeria and
Ghana and thereby have made a concrete arrangement with the Post Office
Nigeria for a safe delivery to your door-step once the beneficiary meets
up the demand of the conveyance.

Here is the information where to send the post charges of US$59.00 today.

Receivers Name:==== Etok Kemmer
Country==========Nigeria
City:===============Lagos
Test Question:=======AA
Answer:
===========BB
Amount:===========$59.00usd
MTCN ============?

Sender's Name=========?

We are here to fight and against crimes and fraudulent acts.

Yours in Service, Shirlene Nibbs

Director General of Tourism.

CONSULT DEPARTMENT OF BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONS.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam