419 scam: "U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE NEW YORK CITY" <diplomat-robert-org@qatar.io> U.S AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC

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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. )
- "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)
- "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: "U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE NEW YORK CITY" <diplomat-robert-org@qatar.io>
Reply-To: usa.a.0ffice@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:39:05 +0530 (IST)
Subject: U.S AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC

U.S AMBASSADOR
TO BENIN REPUBLIC

OFFICE THE U.S
AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC

NO.2, ROUTE DE L'AEROPORT, COTONOU, BENIN

Attention Please;

Without mincing
words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter experience with various
'scam claiming to be high government officials and thereby defrauding you of
your 'hard-earned money'. The activities of these scam has changed your
perspective about conducting business on the internet, and you now believed
there is no genuine business that can be conducted on the internet. Well, I am
an American and the internet was created by Americans for the purpose of
creating awareness for your products/services and conducting genuine business
with ease. I am fully committed to deliver the "diplomatic
consignment" to you in the United States in order to differentiate myself
from the many Benin Republic you have dealt with.

I am a full
citizen of the United States, but I was on a Foreign Mission here in Benin as a
US Ambassador. Hence, I am making every effort to ensure that no citizen of the
United States is cheated by Benin Republic .Therefore, I need your utmost
support and understanding to actualize this dream. I also want you to
understand that I do trust you and I expect you to show me the same trust and
respect in return since trust is a 2-way street. On the other hand, trust is a
relationship of reliance. Trust also means being able to predict what other people
will do and what situations will occur.

Trust is both an
emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you expose your
vulnerabilities to people, but believing they will not take advantage of your
openness. Logically, it is where you have assessed the probabilities of gain
and loss, calculating expected utility based on hard performance data, and
concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In
practice, trust is a bit of both. I trust you because I have experienced your
trustworthiness by merely believing in what I have said, even when you have not
seen me, and because I have faith in human nature.

Frankly
speaking, I understand that anyone in your shoes will feel betrayed, but I
still want you to show me your trust by giving me the benefit of doubt on this
delivery arrangement. My identity and personality is verifiable, and I promise
to deliver the consignment to you in the United States without any hitch.
Please do not allow this mission to die off because of $167 US Dollars, I meant
so well for you and I believe you will appreciate me more when you have finally
received your partial payment of $350.000.00 US Dollars upon my arrival with
the package in United States. I will use my position and personality to deposit
the $350.000.00 USD into your bank account in the United States without
questioning from the financial monitoring authorities, since all documentations
proving the legitimacy of the funds has been processed.

Please don't see
me as one of the numerous dubious Benin republic you have dealt with in the
past. I am a different person entirely and I come from a different continent. I
have the American spirit in me and I hate cheaters. I promise to always uphold
the national unity of the United State. Please reply back ASAP and let me know
your possibility of sending the $167 US Dollars Dollars today. You can send it via western
union Or Money Gram with below name.

Receiver's
name.........Mike Okoye

Country..........Benin
Republic,

City...........Cotonou,

Text
Question.......What City?

Answer..........Cotonou,,

Amount ........
$167 US Dollars

MTCN.......

Sender's
name.....

Sign

His Excellency Cyrille
S. Oguin

US Ambassador to
Republic of Benin. You can reach my secretary with 707-501-9966.

Anti-fraud resources:

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