419 scam: "U.S. A Customs" <officefile2999@gmail.com> A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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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. )
- "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)
- "the 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: "U.S. A Customs" <officefile2999@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usacustomsborderp@rocketmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:40:02 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Attention--Attention-- Attention!

From: Jayson Ahern

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your affirmation
and to inform you of the latest development as regards the delivery of your
consignment package by the Diplomat Mr Terry White. While scanning the package,
our cashtrac machine detected that the content of the package the Diplomat is
delivering to you is cash worth the sum of USD $8.500,000.

It is a crime to bring in money (over US$10,000) into
the United States of America without proper documentations and clearance because
it shows that the money is either being smuggled into the country or the source
of the funds is questionable.

It is very important that all
the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source of the funds are
provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in accordance with the
PATRIOT ACT so that the FBI, IRS and Homeland Security will not come knocking at
your door. In line of the above, It is therefore mandatory that you provide the
Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) to prove that the funds have no links with
any form of illegality before your fund of $8.500,000 will be released from been
on held.

Here is where your
Consignment box were held in(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport. Address:
One World Way. City: Los Angeles CA, (US) and you can track your Consignment
using (www.tnt.fr)

Then put the tracking number as :(tracking number:664579782) then enter and see your parcel in
your country in USA then please reply back to us once you confirms your
consignment held ok please reply back urgent
please

Being the beneficiary of the
Consignment, the Origin of Funds Certificate(O.O.F) is the only way of
confirming the source of the funds and it is your responsibility to provide the
Certificate before the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery To You
Tomorrow.

The Diplomat's Flight Details shows that he came from Benin
Republic and we have contacted the relevant Authorities in that country to
inquire about the process of getting the Certificate.

We were informed that the beneficiary of the
Consignment will pays for the Certificate and the cost of this documentation
$99Dollars, You have to pay this fee directly to them via Western Union Money
Transfer Or Money Gram in the name stated below:

1. Receiver Name
:======= UBA SAMUEL
2. City/Country:==========Cotonou - Benin Republic.
3.
Question=============What For
4. Answer:=============My Belongings
5.
Amonut:=============US$99
6. MTCN: =============
7. Sender
Name========

After paying the Fee,send the following payment
information
1. Sender's Name and Address
2. MTCN
Number
3. Text Question & Answer

Upon the receipt of the payment information, the
Certificate will be made out in your name by the Cotonou Republic Du Benin
Authority, scanned and send immediately via email to us so that the Diplomat
will be allowed to complete the delivery of your package to you
tomorrow.

Failure to pay for this documentation is a confirmation that
you wanted to smuggle the funds into the country which is a federal offense and
a gross violation of the Patriot Act.

It is therefore in your best interest that
you pay for the Certificate as instructed immediately as the consequences of
refusing is very severe.
Yours Faithfully,

Jayson
Ahern
A G Commissioner of
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection
(CBP)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam