419 scam: "MRS.JANET NAPOLITANO" <goodamerica9@gmail.com> FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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: "MRS.JANET NAPOLITANO" <goodamerica9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: janetnapolitano830@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:47:20 +0600
Subject: FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
MG TIMOTHY J. LOWENBERG,ADJUTANT GENERAL AND DIRECTOR STATE MILITARY
DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON MILITARY DEPT., BLDG1 CAMP MURRY ,WASH
98430-5000 USA

GOOD DAY TO YOU.

I HOPE THIS MAIL FINDS YOU IN GOOD SPIRIT AND IN GOOD HEALTH? BECAUSE
I AM QUITE AWARE OF YOUR LOSSES IN THE PAST YEARS NOW, IT MAY SURPRISE
YOU THAT I AM ALSO AWARE OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOXES PURSUIT IN BENIN
GHANA TOGO NIGERIA SPAIN FRANCE MALAYSIA INDONESIA CHINA AND KOREA .MY
NAME IS MRS. JANET NAPOLITANO,THE SECRETARY OF U.S DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY OF AMERICA , AM IN CHARGE TO MONITORED ALL FOREIGN
TRANSACTIONS IN AFRICA EUROPE AND ASIA.'

I HAVE BEEN IN THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY NOW SINCE THE
GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, MONITORING THE VARIOUS
TRANSACTIONS GOING ON IN AFRICA, EUROPE AND ASIA, MOST ESPECIALLY
CONSIGNMENTS CASES AND BANK TRANSFER. I DO NOT INTEND TO SPOIL YOUR
DAY OR TO PUT YOU UNDER DURESS.THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE RETURNED
BACK WITH YOUR PACKAGE HERE IN OUR OFFICE AT UNITED STATE OF AMERICAN.
I WANTED TO CONTACT YOU YESTERDAY BUT I GO HOME VERY LATE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO
CHECK MY EMAILS.

I HAVE REGISTERED YOUR PACKAGE AT THE EMBASSY THIS MORNING TO RELEASED THERE
DIPLOMATIC AGENT FOR THE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME TODAY.
THE BENIN REPUBLIC EMBASSY AT USA HERE TOLD ME THAT YOU WILL PAID $100 FOR THE
DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY WHICH WILL BE OBTAINED FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN WHICH IS
BENIN REPUBLIC TO ALLOWED THE DIPLOMAT MOVE TODAY TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE TO
YOUR ADDRESS.

I HEREBY CONFIRM THE PAYMENT INFORMATION GIVEN TO ME AFTER DISCUSSING WITH HIM
TAT YOU SHOULD TRY TO MAKE THE PAYMENT TODAY TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE.
HERE IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE FEE.

SEND THE FEE VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION TODAY.

RECEIVER’S NAME...ARINZE OBI
COUNTRY... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY...COTONOU
AMOUNT...$100
QUESTION...WHEN
ANSWER...NOW
MTCN...
SENDER'S NAME...
SENDER'S ADDRESS:......

TO MY GREATEST SURPRISE, DURING MY RECENT ROUTINE RE-CHECKING, I
PERSONALLY DISCOVERED THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT CONTENT DECLARATION
DOCUMENTS STATED THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT CONTAINS PERSONAL EFFECTS
MEANWHILE, IT CONTAINS UNITED STATES DOLLAR BILLS WORTH OVER US$40
MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSIGNMENT TO BE
DELIVERED TO YOU EARLIER BEFORE NOW.

I HAVE TAKEN THIS ASSIGNMENT UPON MYSELF BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH ON THE COST OF DELIVERY, BUT NOTHING WAS
RECEIVED BY YOU. SO BE ADVICE TO CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY YOU GET THIS

EMAIL NOW BECAUSE EVERY THING HAS BEEN DONE OK. THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM
OUR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

ONCE YOU SEND THE MONEY, TRY TO NOTIFY ME WITH THE MTCN FOR EASY PICK
UP AND FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT
BOX,FOR YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR INHERITED FUNDS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY
AGAIN .

SINCERELY YOURS,
JANET NAPOLITANO
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam