419 scam: "Mr.Tony Moize" <tonymoize@gmail.com> Ambassador Dr.James Knight U.S. Ambassador to Benin

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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "the required fees" (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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (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.
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.
- +22968652417 (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.
- apexcourierbenin@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Tony Moize" <tonymoize@gmail.com>
Reply-To: apexcourierbenin@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 11:24:04 +0700
Subject: Ambassador Dr.James Knight U.S. Ambassador to Benin

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Embassy U.S. Citizen Services Visas to the U.S. U.S. Policy & Issues Resources
Français

GOD BLESSES ALL OVER THE WORLD!!! Embassy U.S. Citizen Services Visas to the U.S.
U.S. Police & Issues Ressources Français

Dear, Client,

You are welcome to United States Embassy Cotonou Benin Republic. We are here to
represent each and every United States citizen in Cotonou Benin Republic. The welfare of
your business and personal transaction in this country is of utmost importance.

This massage is to inform you that we got an intelligence report from the F.B.I,
Interpol and Homeland Security that your fund of $4.5M USD that was uploaded into an ATM
VISA CARD was deposited in your favour here in Cotonou, in the custody of Apex Courier
Company Benin and Dr. David Christ was mandated to manage and deliver it to you.

The report also stated that some two young men came to Apex office here in Cotonou,
Benin and told Dr. David Christ that you are dead, and that upon death you'd as signed
them next of kin to claim your properties including your funds, so please if you are
alive I want you to write me back and detail to me the true situation because Dr. David
Christ was tempted to give heed to their story of your demise saga.

Prior to this development the Benin Police have lunched a response to arresting those
people right now. Also the reports from the investigation we have here went further to
say that you have paid all the required fees necessary for the smooth delivery of your
ATM CARD excluding the London Metropolitan Police clearance coverage certificate.

The report also stated that the only thing hindering the release of your ATM CARD was
your inability to secure the above-mentioned document that is supposed to back up the
delivery of the package at Apex facility custody department in London and it was their
attorney's who is suppose to go and get the said documents from the London Metropolitan
Police liaison office here in Cotonou which was cut down by the U.S. Bureau of Consular
Affairs in Washington to $240 as requested by Dr. David Christ to enable them complete
the delivery.

Consequently we were directed by the Department of Homeland Security to go over to Apex
Benin Customer Care Department and take control of the delivery process. Of course I am
happy to tell you that we have done The United States Department of Homeland Security
have directed that your ATM VISA CARD be confiscated and remitted into the accounts of
The U.S Treasury department if you refuse to pay the requested document fees for the
delivering the ATM CARD to you, because they are ready to pay for the said documents but
it has to remitted into the account of the U.S government, if you allowed the Homeland
security to pay for it.

They also asked that you should tell us from now till next week whether you are ready to
pay the Apex Courie or not so that Embassy can pay it and have your ATM CARD remitted to
the U.S Treasury, make a contact to them through email address,

Contact person Dr. David Christ
Email address......... apexcourierbenin@yahoo.co.uk
Phone; 00229 68652417

Finally, they have required you should re-send your full information for further
investigation concern two young men who came to claim your fund for the next of kin.

Current name..................
Current address..................
Current phone number......................
Current copy of ID......................

Remember it is very important and note that most documents relating to your ATM VISA
CARD are here at the Embassy and we waiting for your email letter so that we can precede
to the next step of delivery the card.

We are waiting for your urgent response over this matter.

Yours Faithfully,
United Embassy Benin Director
Yours Faithfully,Ambassador Dr.James KnightU.S. Ambassador to Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam