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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. VIVIAN DOUGLAS" <ecobankplc746@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.viviandouglas@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2017 14:11:39 -0700
Subject: America Embassy

Rue Caporal Bernard Anani
01 BP 2012, Cotonou,Benin Republic
Office Tell: Call or text (317) 406-6968

Attention Please!

I am Ambassador Mrs. Vivan Douglas, sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to
Benin on June 19th, 2017. A career member of the Senior Foreign
Service, class of Minister-Counselor. I recently served as Director in
the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan in the
Department of State. Previously, I served the Department of State as
Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal. Economic
Counselor, U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development, Paris, France. Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader,
Erbil, Iraq. And Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, N’Djamena,
Chad. I've also served at U.S. Missions to the United Nations in New
York, Rome and Vienna, and has also had assignments in Brazil,
Mozambique, Colombia and Washington.

I would like to inform you that your funds issue was brought to my
office this morning because the director of the United Bank For Africa
(U.B.A) here in Benin Republic said that they have uploaded your
inheritance fund worth($1,800,000,00) into a new Visa Card but since
then they have not heard from you, so the case was brought to my
office in a view to Cancel your fund and divert it into government
treasuries account, because of your sudden silence to comply with
delivery terms and conditions. Then, I asked what are the conditions
but i was told that you are been required to pay the delivery charges
cost $85 but i told him to wait because there is no need to cancel the
payment that i will do my very possible best to bring the issue to
conclusion since it has been brought to my office. To the best of my
knowledge, i found out that this fund is legitimate and i advise you
should send the delivery charges cost $85 to ship your Visa Card that
contains your inheritance fund that worth One Million Eight Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars only($1,800,000.00). I guarantee that
this fund will be delivered under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. I will be here guiding you on
the inheritance matter as well as backing you up with all the
necessary information that may be required.

What could be your reason of refusal and chosen to abandon such huge
amount of money? I want your urgent reconfirmation of your delivery
information to me such as your full name, address and telephone number
as soon as you receive this email. This could be the last opportunity
you might have in receiving your inheritance fund so do not fail to
notice this wonderful moment to have your fund that you have been
looking for way to making it reality. I will be waiting to hear from
you with the $85 payment details, as to resolve the issue as quickly
as possible for you to receive your overdue payment.

PAYMENT INSTRUCTION:

RECEIVER NAME: KELVIN ODUME
COUNTRY: Benin Republic
CITY: Cotonou
TEST QUESTION: Urgent
ANSWER: Today
AMOUNT: $85 USD
MTCN NUMBER. . . . ?

NOTE This message contains information about the bilateral
relationship between the United States of America and Republic of
Benin as well as foreign policy, economic affairs, domestic issues,
and U.S. society and values. Led by the Ambassador, the U.S. Mission
works to foster a friendly relationship between the U.S. and Benin for
the benefit of both countries.

Best Regards,
U.S Ambassador to Benin
MRS. VIVIAN DOUGLAS

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