419 scam: "United States Consulate General Lagos"<info@nigeria.usembassy.gov> RE: GUARANTEED DELIVERY

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
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. )
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- usambassador.ng.state.gov@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United States Consulate General Lagos" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usambassador.ng.state.gov@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:17:01 +0100
Subject: RE: GUARANTEED DELIVERY

United States Consulate General Lagos

2 Walter Carrington Crescent

Victoria Island, Lagos

Nigeria.

Date: January 15th, 2015

Dear Sir,

My name is James F. Entwistle. I was sworn in as the Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on October 28, 2013. Prior to my appointment as the Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on October 28 2013, I served as U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2010-2013. My identity can be verified by simply clicking on the URL link below:

http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html

However, acting in my capacity as the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigeria's Presidency to deliver the sum of $10,500,000.00 USD being your approved nominee beneficial payment. However, I will be bringing your consignment containing the $10,500,000.00 USD which has been packaged and sealed inside two "Diplomatic TRUNK BOXES" in your favor. But this time I will not go through customs scrutiny because as a U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I am a U.S. government agent and a career member of the senior Foreign Service. Hence, I have the diplomatic immunity that will allow me a free-passage through the customs without inspection of the two "Diplomatic TRUNK BOXES" containing the cash of $10,500,000.00 USD.

For your confirmation, your package containing the ($10,500,000.00 USD) must be registered as a "diplomatic package" to enable me defeat all odds, and the cost of registration of the package as a "diplomatic package" is $135. Hence, the $135 must be paid within a limited time frame of 48 hours from the time of this notification, so that all neccessary arrangement can be made ahead of time.

Please arrange to send the fee directly via Western Union to our "cargo registration officer" with the information below:

Recipient's Name: JOHN MICHEAL

Address: 2, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria

Test question: Pet

Answer: Dog

Please kindly respond back to me via email at: usambassador.ng.state.gov@gmail.com with the details of your home address where you want me to bring the consignment, including your telephone number.

Respectfully yours,

James F. Entwistle

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam