419 scam: AMBASSADOR MICHEAL RAYNOR <ambassadormichealraynor@yahoo.pt> Urgent attention:Beneficairy,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: AMBASSADOR MICHEAL RAYNOR <ambassadormichealraynor@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: AMBASSADOR MICHEAL RAYNOR <ambassadormichealraynor@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 00:21:12 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Urgent attention:Beneficairy,

Â Urgent attention:Beneficairy,

HOW ARE YOU TODAY WITH YOUR FAMILY ?
I'm Michael Raynor From u.s embassy Benin Republic, i know that this email may look strange to you but i will explain this the way you will understand it.

I was newly appointed as ambassador to Benin Republic and i wanted to inform you that i saw your name in one of theÂ files here with some payment details which you made to receive your fund but i don't know what happened that old AmbassadorÂ Mr James Knight,,money gram director,western union director ,UBA BANK,federal ministry of juctice and othersÂ who left this office did not allowed you to received your fund.Â I decided to write you if you may still be interested to receive your fund through the power of this office and i know that something went wrong or maybe they requested so much money from you which you are unable to pay but i will try my best as a new appointed ambassador to Benin Republic and i will make sure that you receive your fund through a consignment this time around to avoid any story again.

I was so shocked when i saw yourÂ name here and you are very lucky that he did not cleans away your name which means that i can still locate you through your email address and i'm so sorry for whatever has happened and how much you spent in the past . but be rest assured that i will never disappoint you like others did and all i needed from you now is to re-confirm your contact address and your bank details where you will like to receive your fund and all it will cost you is $75 usdÂ to renew your Certificate ofÂ ownership with your payment file,and you are paying the $75 usd to the attorney who will do the work so that i can put my signature to enable you receive your $4.5m after all the delays.

I will wait to hear from you as soon as you receive this email and this is the payment details where you should send the $75 usd through Money Gram or western unionÂ today.

Receiver Name ...............Jim Udo
Country ............................Benin Republic
City................................Cotonou
Amount ...........................$75 usd
Question.........................God Bless
Answer.......................... America
Code ..........................00229
Mtcn Number..............................
Sender' Name..................................

Waiting for your urgent response,

MICHEAL RAYNOR.
The New United States Ambassador to the Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam