419 scam: "Mrs. Gayleatha Beatrice Brown" <usembassy

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
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.
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.
- mr_ericrichard@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Gayleatha Beatrice Brown" <usembassy_frontdesk@usa.com>
Reply-To: mr-ericrichard@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 04:00:49 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Us Embassy!

Embassy

U.S. Citizen Services

Visas to the U..S.

U.S. Policy & Issues

Resources

Français

Attn Dear Citizen,

This is to
notify you that your consignment has been in our custody waiting for your comply
before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been
waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which Courier
Company suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department of State
Bureau and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the
origination of the consignment box before it will be released.

As a
result of you not comply within duration given by Benin Government that is the
reason the consignment box was diverted to treasury. All the welfare of United
States Citizen is my concern. Am here to take the protocol of all our citizens
to not be cheated by Africans.

After the meeting held by our board of
director which was concluded that the delivery of your consignment to your
address must be complete within three working days upon your comply to our
requirement which is by sending the sum of $85 to enable us obtain the needed
certificate and effect with the delivery of your consignment immediately. Note
that your consignment box has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to receive
clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. Mean while you are advice
to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong
person..

1, Your full
name_______________
2,country_____________
3, Your home
address_____________
4, Direct Telephone
Number__________

Once you notify us with the above
information we will release your
consignment to you, Contact the Embassy
Office Direct with the following information Below,

Contact person, Mr.Eric Richard

E-Mail (mr_ericrichard@hotmail.com)
DIRECT
NUMBER(+22999957514)

Note that you are expected to pay only $85 for clearance certificate
and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the consignment
box in favor of Okechukwu Emmanuel as our accountant officer in Benin Republic
Send the $85 through western union or Money Gram once you receive this mail with
the information below for immediate release of your consignment box,

Receivers Name: Okechukwu O. Emmanuel
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Question:
tea
Answer : cup
Amount:
$85.00

Once you send the money, try to notify
us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of
your consignment. Please treat this as matter of urgency .Note that any unclaim
consignment will be return to the Courier Company after 3 days for final
divertion. So you are urgently advise to comply with our demand so that we will
release your

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Gayleatha Beatrice Brown
US
Ambassador
Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam