419 scam: "JAMES" <lee@rmg.ie> RE: DEAR VALUED CUSTOMER

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
- 23401

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES" <lee@rmg.ie>
Reply-To: jamesernest91@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 25 May 2019 03:35:11 -0700
Subject: RE: DEAR VALUED CUSTOMER

UNITED NATION OFFICE.
LAGOS NIGERIA
THE DESK OF JAMES ERNEST

Attention,

This is to bring to your notice that because of the impossibility of your fund transfer. I am doing all I can to make sure you receive your funds. Your fund worth's $1,500,000.00. I have protected your funds for morethan a year now and i am assuring you that you still have every opportunity to claim your entire funds from the United Nation Office Lagos Nigeria. I am only trying to help you because of the way the payment was handled in the past.

Secondly, I can not sit and watch you loose your funds after confiding in me. As a matter of fact, there are still decent and god fearing people here in the United Nation Office Lagos Nigeria which I am a good example. Since I came to this office January 2016, I have helped so many foreign Contractors/Beneficiaries from all paths of the world in claiming their long over due fund from the Nigerian Government.

If you don't want to conclude these matter before Tuesday coming week just inform me today so that I can know what next to do because I can not just be helping out and you are there dealing with people and sending information to them and if you can't send the fee then know that your fund will be canceled and all your effort so far will turn useless because I did all I can for my government to protect your fund. I can only help you if you decide to help yourself.

If you can be able to come up with $126.00 for the Clearance Paper today or tomorrow then, I will make sure you get your fund before Monday morning. All is now ready for your fund to be delivery to you as I write to you now due to my effort. I will not like a situation where my effort will be a useless one.Just do your best by sending the only needed $80 and we will get your fund delivery to you. If we receive the fee from you between today or tomorrow, I assure you that you are going to confirm your funds in your Country within the next few days through our choosing special Diplomatic Agent. I shall try my possible best to make sure I conclude the due legal process this evening and will like you to take my word because I am strongly behind you and my effort to this does not end until you confirm your fund in your hands.

Please do not allow any body to deceive you as I expect your response and I don't want you to be afraid because am now really determine to see this to the end of this. Just take life easy and see what the result will be on or before next Week Monday, I will expect your response and the fee sent by western union as directed below.

Just get back to me as soon as you send the $126 with the payment details via WESTERN UNION and I promise you that you will receive your fund as schedule. Its not easy and I believe you have tried as well, so make sure you conclude this or your fund will be terminated by the Higher Authority and that is all I can say for now.

Meanwhile you are advise to reconfirm the details below to avoid delivery to the wrong person.

1, Your full name..............
2, Your full home address ....................
3, Direct Telephone Number........................
4, Occupation...............................
5, I.d or Passport..........................

I am expecting the payment information as soon as you can so we can proceed immediately. Note that you are expected to pay only $80.00 for United Nation Clearance and you are to pay it to Nigeria as the origination of your fund. Send the $80.00 through MONEY GRAM once you receive this mail to my information below:

RECEIVERS NAME: UDENZE OBINNA
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
CITY: LAGOS
COUNTRY CODE: 23401
TEXT QUESTION: WHAT FOR
TEXT ANSWER: CONCLUSION
AMOUNT: $126.00
MTCN........................

Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN# AND THE SENDER'S NAME for easy pick up and for immediate action as above stated.

Please treat this as matter of urgency and we promise not to let you down.

Yours In Service,
JAMES ERNEST
Assistant Secretary of United Nation Office
Lagos Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam