419 scam: "Mr,James L.Knight" <mike.collins36@yahoo.fr> Form AmbassadorBenin 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- ambassadorus40@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr,James L.Knight" <mike.collins36@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: ambassadorus40@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:21:55 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Form AmbassadorBenin Republic

Form AmbassadorBenin Republic
United States Consulate General cotonou
2 Walter Carrington Crescent
cotonou benin republic.
Dear Sir\Madam,

My name is James l Knight, the United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of benin republic. The United States Senate had confirmed my nomination on August 30. 2009 after being nominated for this position by U.S. President Barack Obama on June 28, 2010. My credentials as the new Ambassador appointed were presented to His Excellency Yayi Boni at the Presidential Villa in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on November 2, 2010. I am a career member of the senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor whose diplomatic career has been spent mostly in Africa or working on African issues.

I served most recently as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, DenmarK. Prior to this, I was the U.S. Ambassador to Mali, and I have served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Tunisia, Senegal and Togo. Other overseas postings include Benin Republic, West Africa, India and Chad. In Washington, I was the senior desk officer for Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Assistance. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history and French language and literature in University of Oregon in Eugene, and I also attend the Université de Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France, from 1979-1980 as a Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellow, and also attend the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. My identity

can be verified by simply clicking on the URL link below:
http://cotonou.usembassy.gov/bio.html
However, following the resolution of the meeting held with His Excellency President Yayi Boni at the Presidential Villa in cotonou.yesterday with some members of the Federal House of Senate, an agreement was reached that the sum of $500,000.00 USD must be paid out to you in the form of a compensation for all the years you have waisted in waiting for your funds to be released. Hence, the $500,000.00 USD compensation fund has been instructed to be paid out to you in the form of a CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT drawn on Standard Chartered Bank. The said BANK DRAFT will be packaged inside a U.S Embassy Official Envelope to be sent to you via Postal Mail at no cost to your mailing address.

And the time frame for delivery is 24 hours, which is 2 days since it would be sent via a Postal Mail Service.
Meanwhile, a "Custom I.R.S" must be obtained from the Benin Customs Authourity at a fee of $109.00 USD for a full clearance certification on the BANK DRAFT. Hence, the $109.00 dollar fee must be paid within 24 hours upon your receipt of this notification via western union or MoneyGram, so that all neccessary arrangement can be made ahead of time.

The fee should be sent directly to the "Embassy Protocol Officer" with the below information:

Name:IGBANU CHIKELOU,
Cotonou - Benin Republic
question: Present Year
answer: 2011
Amount: $109.00

Please take note that the "I.R.S" and the BANK DRAFT will be packaged together inside the U.S Embassy Official Envelope for immediate despatch to your mailing address. Hence, you are advised to comply as requested to enable me discharge my official duty to your home accordingly.

Congratulations!!!
Respectfully yours,
Mr,James L.Knight
US Ambassador to Benin
Email: ambassadorus40@hotmail.com

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