419 scam: "UNITED STATES EMBASSY NIGERIA"<usaembassy@usa.com> LETTER FROM USA EMBASSY TO YOU

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED STATES EMBASSY NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donnam.consulgeneral.blair@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:11:06 -0800
Subject: LETTER FROM USA EMBASSY TO YOU

Attention,

Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) received a report of scam against you in Nigeria,Benin Republic,Ghana and Bukina faso and other British/US citizens and Malaysia Etc.

The countries of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Bukina faso and Ghana have recompensed on following the meeting held with the Four countries' Government and various countries' high commission for the fraudulent activities carried out by the Four countries' Citizens. Your name was among those scammed as listed by the Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU).

A Compensation has been issued out to all the affected victims in form of an ATM Card and has been already in endorsement to all the victims.

Your Name was among those that was reported unpaid as at on Monday and we wish to advise you to see to the instructions of the Committee to make sure you receive your compensation immediately.

We advise that you do the needful to make sure the NFIU endorse your payment on Monday. Contact the office of the consular for an advise on how your recompense will be effected to you. Be advised that you should stop further contacts with all the imposters who in collaboration scammed you.

furnish us with the following details to satisfy you for the recompensation.

Full Name:
Home address:
Country:
Marital status:
Sex:
Occupation/profession:
Mobile number:
Age:

Contact immediately to check if the endorsement date suits you.

Yours in Service,

Donna M. Blair
Consul General,
USA Embassy, Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam