419 scam: AMERICAN EMBASSY <unitedstatembassy.gov@auditores.com> Package Arrival Contact Us Urgent

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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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: AMERICAN EMBASSY <unitedstatembassy.gov@auditores.com>
Reply-To: airport_embasy@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:10:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Package Arrival Contact Us Urgent

Embassy of the United
States of America in Cotonou, Benin
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani. BP 2012,
Cotonou Benin
Tel: +(229) 66 47 21 11

Greetings from U.S. Embassy in Cotonou,
Benin

This is to notify you that your package contained ATM MASTER CARD
US$1.2Million has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the final
delivery will be effected to your registered address. We have been waiting for
you to contact our office regarding this package which suppose to be delivered
to you by courier service company and was delayed on hold by Airport agency
requesting for coverage license number which will be obtain from the country
origin where your package departed from before it will be allowed for final
delivery at your address.

After the end of the month meeting held by the
entire board of directors which was concluded that the delivery of all
intercepted packages must be released including your package to your address
within 24hrs you comply to the requirement which is by sending the sun of
$130.00 to enable this office obtain the needed coverage license and place the
number for final delivery at your address.

Note that your package has
arrived American embassy and wait to provide the coverage license number before
the gate pass is given. Meanwhile, you are expected to reconfirm the below
information upon contacting us to avoid wrongful delivery.

1. Your full
name
2. Your home address
3. Direct Phone number
4. Occupation &
Convenient Time

Once you notify us with the above information with license
fee we will apply for the coverage license number and complete delivery at your
registered address, so be encouraged to send the above coverage license fee in
favour of Mr. Nweke Edwin our protocol officer in Benin Republic through western
union or Money Gram once you receive this mail on below
information.

Receivers Name: Nweke Edwin
Country: Benin
City:
Cotonou
Text Question: Only
Answer: One
Amount: $130.00

Once
you send the required information with license fee, do notify us with the
transfer MTCN for easy pick up and final delivery of your package at your
registered address.

Notice: any package that stays unclaimed for seven
working days (7days) will be returned to the Government warehouse for onward
confiscated, so treat this as matter of urgency

I wait to hear from you

Sincerely Yours
Dr. Lyngrid Rawlings
Management Officer
U.S. Embassy
Cotonou, Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam