419 scam: MICHAEL RAYNOR Greetings from U.S.A Embassy.

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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. )
- "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)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
- impexworldwdinc@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MICHAEL RAYNOR
Reply-To: <usembassybn@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2015 22:23:14 +0100
Subject: Greetings from U.S.A Embassy.

AMERICAN EMBASSY.
Bureau of Consular Affairs
01BP,Cotonou,
Benin Republic.

Date: 26/11/2015.

Greeting from U.S Embassy,

Attention:

We write to inform you that your package with reference number 2661428 have been delivered to you in USA, It is presently with IMPEX WORLDWIDE INC. UNITED STATE OF AMERICA facility custody waiting for resolutions of the clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address.

We are now been waiting for you to contact us regarding your package clearance certificate which will be obtain from the country of origin of your consignment box before it will be released to you by the Diplomatic Agent of IMPEX COURIER,UNITED STATE OF AMERICA .

After the meeting held with the Government of Benin Republic today concerning all the unpaid and unclaimed funds to foreign beneficiaries, We are not happy that some beneficiaries has paid much money yet they have not received their fund and that prompted us to help, it was resolved that the delivery of your package to your address must be completed within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You are to send a sum of $138.00 USD to obtain the needed Ownership/clearance certificate from this office (United State Embassy) in Cotonou,Benin Republic.

The clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economic situation that makes it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement.

We will upon the confirmation of your clearing charge authorize the Diplomat Agent of IMPEX in charge of your package (Edward Dickson) to proceed with the delivery of your package (ATM CARD whorth of Five Million United States Dollars - US$5,000,000.00) to your address without further delay.

Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the bellow information upon contacting us to avoid wrong delivery.

1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Occupation
5- Your Identity (Passport number or any ID Card number) for Identification

Once you notify us with the above information together with the Clearance Charge of $138, we will then authorize the immediate release of your package in USA to your delivery address through the office of IMPEX WORLDWIDE INC., UNITED STATE OF AMERICA,

Company Name: IMPEX WORLDWIDE INC.
Company address: 4000 Bordentown Ave Unit 26. Sayreville , NJ 08872-2760
Email: impexworldwdinc@gmail.com
TEL: (+1) 615 285 3024

Your package is currently with IMPEX WORLDWIDE INC.,USA and awaiting to
be delivered to your door step once we confirm receipt of the Ownership/Clearance charge of $138 from you here in the office of MR. MICHAEL RAYNOR (U.S Ambassador to Benin Republic).

Note that you are expected to pay only $138.00 USD for Ownership/clearance certificate and you are to send it through Western Union or Money Gram to the office of the U.S Ambassador at the country of origin of your package Benin Republic, Send in the name of our accountant officer in Benin Republic with the information bellow:

Receiver's Name:====Chinedu Fabian Nzochie
City:=======Cotonou
Country:=======Benin Republic
Test Question:=======what city
Answer: ===========cotonou
Amount:===========$138.00.00 USD
Sender Name:=======?
MTCN:=======?

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 to your address.

Note that any unclaimed package will be return to the Office of U.S Embassy in Benin Republic after 7 days So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that your package will be released to you without further delay.

Yours Sincerely,

MICHAEL RAYNOR.
U.S. Ambassador to Benin
Bureau of Consular Affairs
UNITED STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY IN BENIN REPPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam