419 scam: "Mr.Douglas Shulman" <joshua_nwaobi@yahoo.com> U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.

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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:
- "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.
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.
- diplomaticagentseaywillian@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Douglas Shulman" <joshua_nwaobi@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: diplomaticagentseaywillian@rocketmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:51:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.

U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Contact person: Mr.Douglas Shulman
Email: diplomaticagentseaywillian@rocketmail.com

Attention Dear customers,

We write to inform you that your package with No.-35460021, Allocation No:
674632 Password No: 339331, Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit
Payment No: 103, Released Code No: 0763; Immediate Telex confirmation
No:-1114433; Secret Code No: XXTN013. 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 to the delivery agent to complete the delivery to anyway your
country is Europe, Oceania,Canada Antarctica,South America And The United
States Of America.

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 $89.00USD 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 (Melvin Michelle) 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,

Contact person: Mr.Douglas Shulman
Email: (diplomaticagentseaywillian@rocketmail.com)

You also advise to contact the delivery agent as well with the delivery
address of yours and his e-mail address is this below.Name : Melvin Michelle
E-mail:(diplomaticagentseaywillian@rocketmail.com)

Note that you are expected to pay only $89.00USD usd for Ownership-clearance
certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the
package in favor of JOHN OBA as our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send
the $89.00 usd through western union once you receive this mail with the
information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:====OBI BEN
Country/City:=======Benin Republic
Test Question:=======what city
Answer: ===========Cotonou
Amount:===========$89.00USD
Mtcn#===========

Once you send the money to Benin Republic to this name , please try to notify
us with the MTCN so that we can contact
Receivers Name:====PETER OZO 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 2days.So you are urgently advised to comply with our
directives so that the Customs will release your consignment.

Yours Sincerely
Mr.Douglas Shulman
Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Service,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam