419 scam: "Mr. George Patrick" <europeanunionteam@gmail.com> Esteemed/Sir/Madam

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "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)
- "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.
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.
- info.wwwinfo.www538@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. George Patrick" <europeanunionteam@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <user_official@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 07:25:10 +0000
Subject: Esteemed/Sir/Madam

--
This site contains information on the TNT Courier Delivery Company
World
Wide, and it provides pages on the bilateral relationship between all
Courier Company Delivery to all Countries, as well as on foreign
policy,
economic affairs, domestic issues, and society and values. The various
sections of the TNT Courier work together as a team to address the
goals of
the Mission.

I am Mr. George Patrick, a Director TNT Courier Company, and we are the
responsibility to deliver your Consignment box worth total sum of
,300,000,00,and i am hereby writing below underline message just to
inform
you the breaking news about your (Five Million Three Hundred Thousand
United States of America ) Prior to our conversation regarding your
consignment box, the Board of Directors TNT Courier Company has resoled
bring to your notice that the new implemented law of TNT Courier
Company
now.

So due to the new implemented law which is now effective, the TNT
Courier
Express Company verification holds in Nation World Wide, and the Banks,
western union and money gram Agents are now demanding a lot on
transferring
charges and Clearance and fund ownership Certificates including Tax, So
TNT
Courier Company has managed to paid them all, Now all the necessary
arrangement to deliver your consignment has been made with TNT Courier
Company.

Your consignment Registration No BJ400754FAD Pin Code Luggage (TT83200)
further notification, you need to file the below reference information
listed, before the delivery of your consignment commence, and for the
purpose of clarification, It is advised that the entire details
information
needed to be file out immediately, to enable TNT Courier Company
dispatch
your consignment to your door step without having problem in locating
you.

(1) Your Full Name: _______________________________
(2) Your Age & Sex: ____________________________
(3) Your Current Home Address: _______________
(4) Your contact Telephone Number:__________
(5) Your Occupation: _____________________
(6) Your Country Origin: _____________________

In addition to what I said earlier please don't disclose the content of
the
consignment to anybody until you have the parcel be in your
hands,moreover,they will call you once the have arrive to your Country,
Further note, you need also to bear the cost total sum of ,00,for
Security
Keeping charges fee, upon resent your full details
information,moreover,try
all your possible hard best to make sure that the total demands charge
fee
will soonest send immediately avoid delaying the delivery.

PAYMENT DETAIL INFORMATION

Receiver's name_____Ani Mike
Country______Benin Republic.
City_______Cotonou
Text Question______Urgent
Answer______Amount
Amount______66, 00,

Thanks
My Regards to your Family
Mr. George Patrick
TNT Courier Company
E-mail info.wwwinfo.www538@gmail.com

CAUTION: THIS INFORMATION MAY BE CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED
INFORMATION. IF
YOU ARE NOT THE ADDRESSED OR AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE THIS FOR THE
ADDRESSED,
YOU MUST NOT USE, COPY, DISCLOSE OR TAKE ANY ACTION BASED ON THIS
MESSAGE
OR ANY INFORMATION
HEREIN. IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE IN ERROR PLEASE ADVICE THE SENDER
ON
THE ABOVE.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam