419 scam: "Mr.JOHN MARTINS."<test@test.com> ATT:Your Tracking Number:800277347645

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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 fee" (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. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "www.fedex01@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "www.fedex01@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348166291233
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.
- fdeliverycompany11@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.JOHN MARTINS." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <www.fedex01@live.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 19:49:39 +0300
Subject: ATT:Your Tracking Number:800277347645

FedEx Nigeria Head Office
70 International Airport Road
Mafoluku, Lagos .
Tel +234-8166291233
EMAIL: ( fdeliverycompany11@gmail.com )
EMAIL: ( www.fedex01@live.com )

Attention:

This email is coming to you as a reminder concerning your pending package
that has been with us for a long time.

As you already know that this package is containing and ATM MASTER CARD
in your name and in the amount of $5.5 million usd.
This email is to let you know that our delivery team has finally carried
out delivery to your residential address. The package left Lagos Nigeria
on January 3rd 2013 and since on the 5th of January 2013 it has been at
Memphis USA awaiting clearance.

To track your package, go to www.fedex.com/tracking and insert the
tracking number below to view delivery status.

http://www.fedex.com/
Tracking Number: 800277347645
You are advised to get back to me as soon as possible so instructions can
be given to you on how to clear the package.

You are hereby advised to provide us with the below details so we can
immediately have it sent out to our delivery men in Memphis.

Your Name(In Full):
Your Delivery Address:
Your Direct telephone Number:

Having tracked your parcel, it confirmed the status of delivery been
pending at Memphis TN awaiting clearance, all you need to do is to pay for
the clearance charges and re-direction fee demanded by the Custom
authorities and once it has been cleared, the parcel will be released and
re-directed to your address.

The clearance charges to be paid by you are $105 only.

You can send the clearance fee of $105 through Western Union Money with
the below details.

Receiver's Name: OKODIKE CHIEDU
Address: Abuja, Nigeria
Text question: You
Answer: God
Amount to be sent: US$105
MTCN: ,,,,,,,,,,

Send me the Western Union 10 Digit MTCN numbers as soon you have made the
payment.

Call me now on +234-8166291233 for more details.
This is important and as such your immediate response will do you Good.
Waiting to read your e-mail( www.fedex01@live.com )

Yours affectionately.
Mr.JOHN MARTINS.
For the Branch Manager FedEx Express Services
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
Director Dr.BEN KEN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam