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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: US Ambassador <"www."@abeam.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: US Ambassador <websiteunion@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:52:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: U.S. AMBASSADOR

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC
OFFICE THE U.S AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC
NO.2, ROUTE DE L'AEROPORT, COTONOU, BENIN;

Attention,

Without missing words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter
experience with various 'scam claiming to be high government officials
and thereby defrauding you of your 'hard-earned money'. The
activities of these scam has changed your perspective about conducting
business on the internet, and you now believed there is no genuine
business that can be conducted on the internet. Well, I am an American and
the internet was created by Americans for the purpose of creating
awareness for your products/services and conducting genuine business with
ease. I am fully committed to deliver the "diplomatic
consignment" to you in the United States in order to differentiate
myself from the many Benin Republic you have dealt with.

I am a full citizen of the United States, but I was on a Foreign Mission
here in Benin as a US Ambassador. Hence, I am making every effort to
ensure that no citizen of the United States is cheated by Benin Republic.
Therefore, I need your utmost support and understanding to actualize this
dream. I also want you to understand that I do trust you and I expect you
to show me the same trust and respect in return

since trust is a 2-way street. On the other hand, trust is a relationship
of reliance. Trust also means being able to predict what other people will
do and what situations will occur.

Trust is both an emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you
expose your vulnerabilities to people, but believing they will not take
advantage of your openness. Logically, it is where you have assessed the
probabilities of gain and loss, calculating expected utility based on hard
performance data, and concluded that the person in question will behave in
a predictable manner. In practice, trust is a bit of both. I trust you
because I have experienced your trustworthiness by merely believing in
what I have said, even when you have not seen me, and because I have faith
in human nature.

Frankly speaking, I understand that anyone in your shoes will feel
betrayed, but I still want you to show me your trust by giving me the
benefit of doubt on this delivery arrangement. My identity and personality
is verifiable, and I promise to deliver the consignment to you in the
United States without any hitch. Please do not allow this mission to die
off because of $250 US Dollars, I meant so well for you and I believe you
will appreciate me more when you have finally received your partial
payment of $850.000.00 US Dollars upon my arrival with the package in
United States.

I will use my position and personality to deposit the $850.000.00 USD into
your bank account in the United States without questioning from the
financial monitoring authorities, since all documentations proving the
legitimacy of the funds has been processed. Please don't see me as one
of the numerous dubious Benin republic you have dealt with in the past. I
am a different person entirely and I come from a different continent. I
have the American spirit in me and I hate cheaters. I promise to always
uphold the national unity of the United State. Please reply back ASAP and
let me know your possibility of sending the $250 US Dollars today. You can
send it via Money Gram with below name, please copy the name correctly
outline below to avoid mistake.

Receiver's name: EDMOND HOUNTON
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Question: when
Answer: today
Amount: $250 US Dollars
MTCN or reference. . . .
Sender's name. . .
Sender's address. . .
Sender's telephone number

Signed
His Excellency Cyrille S. Oguin
US Ambassador to Republic of Benin

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