419 scam: "Mr.James F. Entwistle" <usembassy@yahoo.com.hk> US Embassy

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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:

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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "abuja" (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.
- +2347085157788 (Nigeria, 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.
- ambassador018191@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James F. Entwistle" <usembassy@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: ambassador018191@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 08 May 2015 20:17:31 -0700
Subject: US Embassy

Greetings From US Embassy,
U. S. Embassy, Abuja
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Abuja
Nigeria.

without missing words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter
experience with various scammers claiming to be high government
officials banks and thereby defrauding you of your hard-earned money'
the activities of these scammers has changed your perspective about
conducting business on the internet and you now believed there is no
genuine business that can be conducted on the internet.

Well I am American and the internet was created by Americanâ€™s for the
purpose of creating awareness for your products/ services and
conducting genuine business with ease. I am fully committed to deliver
the diplomatic consignment to you. I am a full citizen of the United
States but I was on a mission here in Nigeria as US ambassador to
Nigeria.

Hence, I am making every effort to ensure that no citizen of the
United States is cheated by Nigeria/Benin republic. Therefore, I need
your utmost support and understanding to actualize this dream. I also
want you to understand that I do trust you and I expect you to show me
the same trust and respect in return since trust is a 2-way street. On
the other hand, trust is a relationship of reliance. Trust also means
being able to predict what other people will do and what situations
will occur.

I shall be coming to your country for an official meeting on Friday
and I will be bringing your funds of $15.5m along with me but this
time I will not go through customs because as an ambassador to
Nigeria, I am a US government agent and I have the veto power to go
through customs. As soon as I am through with the meeting I shall then
proceed to your address. (Send your cell phone number and the address
where you want me to bring the package).

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. check here:
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html your package($15.5m) must
be registered as an ambassadorial package for me to defeat all odds
and the cost of the registering is $150.the fee must be paid in the
next 50 hours via western union so that all necessary arrangement can
be made before time will be against us. Contact my secretary
immediately for the registering fee which is $150 only.

Contact person: Mr. Chukwuemeka Obi
Secretary: To US Ambassador to Nigeria.
Email: ambassador018191@hotmail.com
Tel: +234-708-515-7788

As soon as you send the fee make sure you send me the payment
information. My flight is Thursday 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.

Thank you

Mr.James F. Entwistle
United States Ambassador: To Nigeria.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam