419 scam: James Knight <fdxdelco361@gmail.com> Public Relation Officer United States Ambassador In Benin Republic.

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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: James Knight <fdxdelco361@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.jamesusambassadom@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:58:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Public Relation Officer United States Ambassador In Benin Republic.

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Signed: Hon. James
Knight. Public Relation Officer United States Ambassador In Benin
Republic.
E-mail mr.jamesusambassadom@ymail.com
From: James Knight
Us Ambassador To Benin Rep.
Sent: Sat,
Oct. 20, 2012
Subject: From U.S. Embassy

Good Day,
This is u.s representative in benin republic west Africa .I shall be
coming to usa for an official meeting on Tuesday Nov.2012 and i will be bringing
your package worth your ($2,600,000,00)usd which has been in Benin republic
undelivered for a very long time now due to one reason or the other But this
time i will not go through customs or immigrations because as an ambassador to
Benin ,am us govt.agent and senior citizen and i have the veto power to go
through customs.As soon as am through with the meeting once i arrived u.s.a with
your package i will then proceed to your address and hand over your package to
you.Send your cell phone number and address where you want me to bring your
package to;
a,your delivery address....
b,your cell
phone............

You have really paid so much in this delivery that
makes me wonder.You are a very lucky person because i shall be bringing it
myself and there is nothing anyone can do about it to stop me due to my
position!
YOUR PACKAGE WORTH($2,600,000,00) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN
AMBASSADORIAL FAMILY TREASURE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF
REGISTERING IT IS $65.00usd THE FEE MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE NEXT 3 DAYS VIA
WESTERN UNION SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE
AGAINST ME.

SEND THE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Receivers name......EMMANUEL NNALUE
Country...............Benin
Republic
City....................Cotonou
Tq.....................Final
Ta.....................Final
Amt................$65.00usd

Send
the mtcn and other payment details once you send the money $65.00usd only.MY
FLIGHT IS TUESDAY NOV AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE
DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF
YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.
James Knight(U.S.Ambassador to Benin)
E-mail: ( mr.jamesusambassadom@ymail.com
)
From: James Knight
Us Ambassador To Benin Rep.
.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam