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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: Payment Office <ecobnk64@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ambassadorterence2@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 11:43:45 +0100 (BST)
Subject: United States Consulate General Benin


United States Consulate General Benin2 Walter Carrington CrescentVictoria Island, cotonouRepublic of Benin.
Dear Sir
My name is Terence Patrick McCulley, the new United States Ambassadorto the Federal Republic of Benin.The United States Senate hadconfirmed my nomination on August 5 2012 after being nominated forthis position by U.S. President Barack Obama on June 20, 2013. Mycredentials as the new Ambassador appointed were presented to HisExcellency President Dr Yayi Boni at the Presidential Villa inCotonou, Benin, on May , 2012. I am a career member of the seniorForeign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor whose diplomaticcareer 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 atthe U.S. Embassies in Tunisia, Senegal and Togo. Other overseaspostings include Niger, South Africa, India and Chad.
In Washington, I was the senior desk officer for Zaire (now DemocraticRepublic of the Congo), and Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Assistance. Ihold a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history and French languageand literature in University of Oregon in Eugene, and I also attendthe Université de Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France, from 1979-1980 asa Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellow, and also attend the FletcherSchool of Law and Diplomacy. My identity can be verified by simplyclicking on the URL link below:http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html

However, following the resolution of the meeting held with HisExcellency President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the Presidential Villain Abuja yesterday with some members of the Federal House of Senate,an agreement was reached that the sum of $500,000.00 USD must be paidout to you in the form of a compensation for all the years you havewasted in waiting for your funds to be released. Hence, the$500,000.00 USD compensation fund has been instructed to be paid outto you in the form of a CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT drawn onStandard Chartered Bank. The said BANK DRAFT will be packaged inside aU.S Embassy Official Envelope to be sent to you via Postal Mail at nocost to your mailing address. And the time frame for delivery is 72hours, which is 3 days since it would be sent via a Postal MailService.
Meanwhile, a "Custom Clearance Certificate" must be obtained from theBenin Customs Authourity at a fee of $58USD for a full clearancecertification on the BANK DRAFT. Hence, the $58dollar fee must be paidwithin 24 hours upon your receipt of this notification via westernunion Transfer, so that all neccessary arrangement can be made aheadof time.
The fee should me sent directly to with this information,ProtocolOfficer" with the below information:
Recipient's Name:Anekwe TonyDestination: Cotonou - Republic Of BeninTest question: How LongTest answer: A DayAmount: $58dollars  
Please take note that the "Custom Clearance Certificate" and the BANKDRAFT will be packaged together inside the U.S Embassy OfficialEnvelope for Immediate despatch to your mailing address. Hence, youare advised to comply as requested to enable me discharge my officialduty accordingly.Congratulations!!!
Respectfully yours,Terence P. McCulleyUS Ambassador to Nigeria and BeninEmail:( ambassadorterence2@yahoo.com )

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