419 scam: "Ambassador Luis CdeBaca," <williansmuba@yahoo.com> U.S. Department of State

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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 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.
- +22999614753 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- post.office112@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ambassador Luis CdeBaca," <williansmuba@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: usaembassybenin@hosanna.net
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:20:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
UPDATE

THIS E-MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Beneficiary/Owner number BIL/U/CPEL/4215,

Attention, Beneficiary
We write to inform you that your Conssignment box with reference number BIL/U/CPEL/4215. Has been in POST OFFICE Company London, United Kingdom facility custody waiting for resolutions of the clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address.. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your Bank Draft which UNIT POST OFFICE SERVICE suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the Bank Draft before it will be released from London, United Kingdom.

After the meeting held with the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that the delivery of Conssignment Box to you address must be complete within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You should send the sum of $220.00 to obtain the needed clearance certificate from Benin Republic. The delivery charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economic situations that make 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 assign our Diplomat Agent (Prince Dickson) to travel to United Kingdom and collect your package and proceed with the delivery.

Here is the iniatialy adresss were the conssignment suppose to be delivered to.

Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Occupation
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID card number)

Once you notify us with the above information we will release your consignment to you, you can contact us with the following information,

Contact person: Ambassador Luis CdeBaca,
Director of the United States Department.
Email: (usaembassybenin@hosanna.net)

Note that you are expected to pay only $220.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it to  UNITED PARCEL SERVICE Benin Republic as the origination of the package in favour of, NAME,DR. Mark .F.Robert,

Email (post.office112@gmail.com
Email post_o@ymail.com
Telephone..+229 99 614753

As there Director incharge in Benin Republic Send the $220.00 through western union once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name: ====EKENE EUGENE.
Country/City: =======Benin Republic/Cotonou
Test Question: =======what city
Answer: =========== Cotonou
Amount: ===========$220.00

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.

Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return POST OFFICE SERVICE   Office in Benin after 7 days.
So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that we will release your consignment.

Yours Sincerely

Ambassador Luis CdeBaca,
Director of the United States

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam