419 scam: "U.S EMBASSY" <opspo@gala.net> Greeting from USA Embassy,

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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:
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- us.embassybenin94@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S EMBASSY" <opspo@gala.net>
Reply-To: embassybenin2009@hotmail.fr
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:01:51 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Greeting from USA Embassy,

U.S. Department of State

THIS E-MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL
ADDRESS
Beneficiary/Owner
number 2661428, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular
Affairs Washington, DC 20520

Greeting from USA
Embassy,

Attention

We write to inform you that your package with reference
number 2661428 has been in COURIER COMPANY UNITED KINGDOM facility custody
waiting for resolutions of the clearance to further the delivery to your
delivery address..We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your
consignment box which COURIER COMPANY suppose to deliver to you which was on
hold by U.S Department of State Bureau and requesting for clearance
certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box
before it will be released from London, United
Kingdom.

After the meeting held with the Government of Benin Republic, it was
resolved that the delivery of your consignment to you address must be complete
within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You should
send the sum of $75 USD to obtain the needed clearance certificate from Benin
Republic.

The clearance charges which was initially on the high price
has been cut down by the U.S 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 (Prince Dickson) to travel to United Kingdom 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.

1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your
Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Identification (Passport number or ID
Card number)

Once you notify us with the above information we will release
your consignment to you, You can contact us with the following information,

Contact person: Hon. Jeffery Jain
Email: (us.embassybenin94@yahoo.com

Number +229_985 705 81

Note that you are expected to pay only $75USD for clearance
certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the
package in favour of Mr.Onyeaka O. as our accountant officer in Benin Republic
Send the $75usd through western union once you receive this mail
with the information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:====.Onyeaka
Okechukwu

Country/City:=======Benin Republic/Cotonou
Test
Question:=======what city
Answer: ===========cotonou
Amount:===========$75

Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN for
easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your
consignment.

Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to
COURIER COMPANY Office in
Benin after 7 days.

So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so
that we will release your consignment.
Yours Sincerely
Hon. PERRY BEN.

FROM AMERICA
EMBASSY

Public Relation
Officer United State Embassy.

FROM
UNITED STATE OF
AMERICA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam