419 scam: AMERICAN EMBASSY <airports_embassy@hotmail.co.uk> Arrival Of Your Package---Contact Us Urgently

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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:
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- +22996463001 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: AMERICAN EMBASSY <airports_embassy@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: airport_embassy@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:03:41 +0300
Subject: Arrival Of Your Package---Contact Us Urgently

Embassy Seal US Department of State
U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin - Home flag graphic

Office: Ambassador James Knight
United States Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani-BP 2012, Cotonou Benin
Office Telephone: (+229) 96 46 30 01

Hours of Operation
Monday to Thursday:
8:00 - 12:30 / 1:30 - 5:00 P.M.
Friday: 8:00 A.M. - 1:30P.M
Service Details Code:-
Deposit NO.: 405576
Arrival Code.: CDS-101-PL45
Content: Package.
Service Schedule: Door Step

Dear good citizen

This is to notify you that a sealed box was brought to our custody
here in U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin by Courier Company Director this
morning for safe keeping and now waiting for your confirmation before
the final delivery will take place to your address registered on list.

It is our responsibility to protect the interest of every good citizen
and will advice you to stop every further communication with any
correspondence from anywhere concerning this fund because we have
finalized to deliver your sealed box funds directly to your address
through our correspondent embassy in your country pending your
immediate response with the requirement, which is by sending sum of
$105.00 across our Embassy here in Cotonou, Benin for procurement of
your sealed box fund waver's license number that will enable safely
departure and arrival at your address.

Furthermore, you are advised to reconfirm below information as your
present and direct contact upon responding back to us avoiding
wrongful delivery.

1. Your full name:
2. Current home address:
3. Telephone Number:

Moreover, you are expected to send the waver's license fee of $105.00
directly to our Embassy here in care of our administration officer
William John, through faster means of western union or Money Gram to
facilitate process of delivery to your address.

Receive By the Name: William John
Located at: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani BP 2012, Cotonou, Benin
Text Question: Safety
Text Answer: Safety

The transfer (MTCN or REFERENCE NUMBER) with other necessary
information must be provided for easy receive and immediate
procurement of your box license number for easy waver to your address.

Once you notify us with above requirement including your data, we
shall without any hesitation send your sealed box fund to your address
through our correspondent embassy in your city and you will be
contacted for personal collection at your door step.

Kindly send your response or call +22996463001 as soon as you receive
this mail as I anticipate your urgent respond.

Thanks & Sincerely Yours,

Ambassador James Knight
United States Ambassador to the Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam