419 scam: "UNITED STATES EMBASSY,NIGERIA."<info@usembassy.org> UNITED STATES CONSUL,NIGERIA.

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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "loan agreement" (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- "lagos" (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.
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.
- 2347033206328

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED STATES EMBASSY,NIGERIA." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robinreneesanders.usembassyng@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:14:26 -0700
Subject: UNITED STATES CONSUL,NIGERIA.

Dear Beneficiary,

Sir/Madam.
STATUS OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE

I wish to inform you on behalf of the United States of America Embassy Consulate here in Nigeria that we have received from the Nigeria government your payment file.

Following a Foreign Debt Settlement Loan agreement signed between the Nigerian government with IMF/WORLDBANK, the IMF/WORLDBANK mandated the Nigeria Federal Government to handover all outstanding foreign payment files to the United States Consulate in Lagos to ensure credibility of foreign debt settlement. This is as a result of numerous scam complaints filed by some affected beneficiaries who have been defrauded one way or the other in the course of pursuing their payments by agencies/officials of the Government.

In view of this responsibility conferred on us by IMF/WORLDBANK, and in order for us to carry out this task to your maximum satisfaction, you are advised to contact this office to enable us establish link with you for processing of your payment prior to final payment of your fund through any of our designated and reputable paying financial institution within US and EU.

Due to worldwide economic crunch, which left Nigerian Government with no funds to settle their huge foreign debts owed to individuals and companies, which prompted their applying for loan to IMF/WORLDBANK. And following mountain of scam complaints by foreigners in the hands of officials of Nigerian government, the IMF/WORLDBANK capitalized on this opportunity to ensure that process of paying those affected is transparent and devoid of such complaints again, hence the involvement of US Consulate.

Prior now, there has been a huge bilateral and diplomatic face-off between the Nigerian government, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well the U.S Government due to the government inability to pay all outstanding funds of foreign beneficiaries. And among the criteria for approval of the loan for the Nigerian government is for the United States Consulate to takeover charge and pay all outstanding funds to the rightful beneficiaries after thorough scrutiny and verification hence this letter to you. It has been ascertained that 90% of those affected are from the United States, Asia and E.U countries.

Therefore, to enable us proceed, you should send the below information for scrutiny, and subsequent payment. Meanwhile, if you should opt for certified bank check or ATM MASTER CARD then you do not need to send your bank details, but rather your correct address to receive the check or ATM MASTER CARD.

(1) FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS.

(2) YOUR BANK DETAILS TO RECIEVE YOUR FUND.
(3) COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION (VERY IMPORTANT)
(4) AMOUNT OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT (IN US$) ONLY.
(5) ACCURATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

This will enable us finalize with the head of government and transfer your fund.

Sincerely,

Mr. Powell James.
Director, Foreign Debt Settlement Unit (FDSU),
United States Consulate
#2 Walter Carrington Crescent, V.I Lagos.
Lagos-Nigeria.
Tel:234-7033206328.

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