419 scam: "US Ambassador to Benin Republic"<usambasador111@att.net> US 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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "usambassador1@postafiok.hu" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22996959516 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "US Ambassador to Benin Republic" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usambassador1@postafiok.hu>
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:44:19 -0400
Subject: US Ambassador to Benin Republic

(ATTENTION: MR. & MRS.
My name is Mr. William Lawrence. I am the US Ambassador to Benin Republic. I am a career member of the senior Foreign Service, who arrived in Benin in December, 2006.
Regarding the last email I received from you about a month ago, I understand that you have being scammed out of lot money in African such as Nigeria Benin Republic Burkina-faso, am united state of American citizen also united state of American ambassador to Benin republic.

I want inform you that due to all the obstacle you have being passing through in receiving your fund, I have personal decided to handle your fund on your behalf to make sure you received your wining fund of $1.5 successfully which is available in Benin republic.

Now I have signed this fund through orders of seven laws both in united state of American and African, (THAT IS AN IRROVOCABLE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVED THIS SAID FUND).

I am also using this medium to inform you that your payment has being process via ATM visa card and the account has being already opened and the total amount you are to withdraw per day is the sum of $10, 000, 00 and you can also make a transfer through online $400,0000 per day to your personal account.

This is to prove to you that your transaction of $1.5 million is real, sir madam I need your address and personal telephone numbers such home phone and cell phone

And being it in mind that once you received the ATM card you have to activated it before could start withdrawing fund
The only fee you are to pay is the sum of $55 which is the delivery fee of your ATM visa card to enable FedEx express courier to deliver the ATM card to you as a letter.

The fee should be sent with this below given information

Receivers name: James Charles
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text question: present year
Answer: 2011

Treat as urgent.

Respectfully yours,
Below is my attached Id
call me +229-969 59516

Mr. William Lawrence (Email Address:(usambassador1@postafiok.hu
US Ambassador to Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam