419 scam: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection"<support@vasudevi.ac.th> Attention: Beneficiary

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "you are required 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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <coordinator_offices09@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:54:09 +0700
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Office of Border Patrol

Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C.

>From The Desk of: Michael J. Fisher

Chief of the Border Patrol

Attention: Beneficiary

I am pleased to inform you that your ATM Card worth Ten Million, Five

Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$10.5m) sent from Nigeria as

part of your overdue payment/funds was returned to our office last

week from Atlanta, Georgia where it was held due to one unavailable

document. According to the information reaching my desk today, the ATM

Card was returned due to your failure to pay the necessary charges

required by the delivery company to enable it pass through the

security agency.

However, after due investigation was conducted, I found out that your

ATM Card was stopped unnecessarily. Georgia office told us that your

ATM Card has no INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY PERMIT that was why you were

told to pay huge amount of money which you did not pay. But after

further investigation, it was very clear that your ATM Card has the

INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY PERMIT attached to it therefore you will no

longer pay the money you were asked to pay then. Now the only money

you are required to pay is $180 only billed for THAILAND CUSTOMS

SERVICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE to clear your file so that you can

receive your ATM Card without further delay. Note that the thailand

customs will process the CUSTOMS CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE and send it to

us as soon as you send the money to them to enable us release your ATM

Card.

Kindly reconfirm your full name, home address, I.D and direct/cell

phone number so that your ATM Card will be dispatched to your

preferred address immediately you send the fee to them without any

delay. Be rest assured that your ATM card will be dispatched to the

address you provided as soon as you send the fee for the document.

Secondly, be rest assured that there will be no delay on your ATM card

delivery after you send the money and the clearance document is been

issued in your name by the THAILAND CUSTOMS SERVICE AUTHORITY.

For more information about me, kindly visit our website.

http://www.cbp.gov/about/leadership/assistant-commissioners-office/border-patrol

You can also contact me here, tel: 347-973-6199 email:

Awaiting your timely response with the above stated details.

Regards,

Michael J. Fisher

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam