419 scam: "U.S AMBASSADOR" <aj-shop.@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp> GOOD NEWS

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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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +22998682271 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S AMBASSADOR" <aj-shop.@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "U.S AMBASSADOR" <ambslucytamlyn62@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2016 23:15:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS

Rue Caporal Bernard Anani
01 BP 2012, Cotonou, Benin
Office Tell: +229 98-68-2271
Web site http://cotonou.usembassy.gov/

Attention Please!

I am Ambassador LUCY TAMLYN, sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Benin on October 23rd, 2015. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. I recently served as Director in the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan in the Department of State. Previously, I served the Department of State as Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal. Economic Counselor, U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France. Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader, Erbil, Iraq. And Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, N$B!G(BDjamena, Chad. I've also served at U.S. Missions to the United Nations in New York, Rome and Vienna, and has also had assignments in Brazil, Mozambique, Colombia and Washington.

I would like to inform you that your funds issue was brought to my office this morning because the director of the United Bank For Africa (U.B.A) here in Benin Republic said that they have uploaded your inheritance fund worth ($5,800,000,00) into a new Visa Card but since then they have not heard from you, so the case was brought to my office in a view to Cancel your fund and divert it into government treasuries account, because of your sudden silence to comply with delivery terms and conditions. Then, I asked what are the conditions but i was told that you are been required to pay the delivery charges cost $155 but i told him to wait because there is no need to cancel the payment that i will do my very possible best to bring the issue to conclusion since it has been brought to my office. To the best of my knowledge, i found out that this fund is legitimate and i advise you send the delivery charges of $155 to ship your Visa Card that contains your inheritance fund worth Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only ($5,800,000.00). I guarantee that this fund will be delivered under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I will be here guiding you on the inheritance matter as well as backing you up with all the necessary information that may be required.

What could be your reason of refusal and chosen to abandon such huge amount of money? I want your urgent reconfirmation of your delivery information to me such as your full name, address and cell phone number as soon as you receive this email. This could be the last opportunity you might have in receiving your inheritance fund so do not fail to notice this wonderful moment to have your fund that you have been looking for way to making it reality. I will be waiting to hear from you with the $155 payment details, as to resolve the issue as quickly as possible for you to receive your overdue payment.

HERE IS PAYMENT INSTRUCTION via MONEY GRAM or WESTERN UNION:

RECEIVER NAME: Timothe Hounkpe
COUNTRY: Benin Republic
CITY: Cotonou
TEST QUESTION: Urgent
ANSWER: Today
AMOUNT: $155 USD
MTCN NUMBER. . . . ?

Best Regards,
U.S Ambassador to Benin
Amb. LUCY TAMLYN
American Embassy
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Toll: +229 98-68-2271

This message contains information about the bilateral relationship between the United States of America and Republic of Benin as well as foreign policy, economic affairs, domestic issues, and U.S. society and values. Led by the Ambassador, the U.S. Mission works to foster a friendly relationship between the U.S. and Benin for the benefit of both countries.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam