419 scam: "Diplomat Agent Mr.Mason Thomas" <diplomatagent3244@yahoo.pt> Urgent Message From Ur Diplomat agent...

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22961196597 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Diplomat Agent Mr.Mason Thomas" <diplomatagent3244@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Diplomat Agent Mr.Mason Thomas" <diplomaticagent@deliveryman.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:41:38 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Urgent Message From Ur Diplomat agent...

Â Urgent Message From Ur Diplomat agent...

I am diplomat agent Mr.Mason Thomasâ€¦.The agent in charge of your consignment winning box...Meanwhile, I want to let you know that I am now in George Bush Intercontinental Airport_Houston.United state of Americaâ€¦And, what is holding me not to depart and proceed to your home now is thatâ€¦They are demanding for (Force of nation tag) from meâ€¦The custom here in the airport state that I must get it before they will allow me step out and the certificate should be sent by Benin republic government as the origin country of your fund, worth ($4.8M US) I have call barrister john Collins in Benin republic on how to obtain this certificate of a tag to enable me commence immediately to your home addressâ€¦but he said to get the certificate in your nameâ€¦will cost youÂ the sum of $150 dollarsâ€¦.I want you to get back to me immediately you receive this my mail because there is a lot of toughs here in united state and I donâ€™t want anything stupid to happen to your consignment boxâ€¦And IÂ want you to take note, that I am doing all my possible best to make sure your consignment box is save on your favor as a good Christian man and also one of the best diplomat agent in the world present nowâ€¦

Here below is the payment details and you are advice to use it in sending down the fee to the origin country to obtain the needed tag as soon as possible, so that I can depart from the airport and proceed to your home once it is obtained and fax to me here in the airport...

1: Receiver Name.....Prosper Jude
2: Country...........Benin Republic
3: City..............Cotonou
4: Amount............$150
5: Test Question......Color
6: Answer............Yellow
7: sender s Name.....?
8: Reffrence number or Mtcn no..?

Please,i want your to reconfirm your details here below to avoid wrong hand over once i arrived at your door step with your consignment box,
Name: ====================
Address: =====================
Mobile No.:=======================
Name Of Your Nearest Airport:================
A Copy Of Your Identification :==================

Email me here...And call Mr.Prosper Jude on this phone no +229-6119-6597 Once u make the payment of $150...Thank you once again and while waiting for your urgent and positive respond...

Diplomat agent
Mr. Mason Thomas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam