419 scam: "US Customs Service"<hr@pro-group.com.cn> FROM U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service.

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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:
- "dear friend" (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. )
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- info4us.customs12@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "US Customs Service" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info4us.customs12@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:32:55 -0700
Subject: FROM U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service.

Bureau of Consular Affairs 393 PARK AVENUE YORK, NY 10043
Greeting from U.S. Customs,FROM: Director John T. Morton.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
393 PARK AVENUE YORK, NY 10043

Attention: Mr.Raymond Charles,

Dear Friend, we write to inform you that your CONSIGNMENT BOX with registered number 26W14BX28 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 NIGERIA.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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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.

After the phone call we made on your behalf to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Government of NIGERIA, it was resolved that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete within THREE (3) working days upon your compliance to our directives: You should send the sum of $450 usd to obtain the needed Ownership-Clearance Certificate. The Clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Nigeria considering the poor economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement.

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 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 again,Note that you are expected to pay only $450.00 usd for Ownership-Clearance Certificate and you are to pay it to United State as the origination of the package in favor of our accountant officer in USA which his Payment details that will be given to you as soon as you reconfirm your information and let us know your readiness to Send the $450.00 usd through wire transfer or bank deposit with the Bank once you receive this mail with the information that will be send to you in our next email for immediate release of your Consignment,

Once you are ready to deposit the money to the receivers agent payment details, try to notify us immediately for action on the release of your Ownership-Clearance Certificate.Note that any unclaimed consignment will be returned to Nigeria Government after 3 days.So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that the Customs will release your consignment.

Yours Sincerely

Mr.Eugene H. Shied,
Assistant Commissioners' Post Office
FROM U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service
Email: info4us.customs12@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam