419 scam: James Knight <sylvesteranaelutu@gmail.com> American Embassy in Cotonou,

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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22995118205 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: James Knight <sylvesteranaelutu@gmail.com>
Reply-To: James Knight <ofile074@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 May 2015 03:48:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: American Embassy in Cotonou,

American Embassy in Cotonou,
Benin Carré 125, Rue Caporal
Bernard Anani 01 B.P. 2012.
Cotonou Benin. Call 00229 9511 8205

My name is James Knight, the United States Ambassador to the
Federal Republic of Benin. The United States Senate had confirmed my
nomination since August 7, 2009. From 2001-08 I served as U.S. Ambassador
to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My credentials as the new Ambassador
appointed were presented to His Excellency President Thomas Boni Yayi
at the Presidential Villa in Cotonou, Benin, on November 24, 2009.

However, following the resolution of the meeting held with His Excellency
President Thomas Boni Yayi at the Presidential Villa in Cotonou Yesterday
with some members of the Federal House of Senate, an agreement was reached
that the sum of $950,000.00 USD must be paid out to you in the form of a
compensation for all the years you have wasted in waiting for your funds to be
released. Hence, the $950,000.00 USD compensation fund has been instructed to
be paid out to you in the form of a Bank draft on Standard Chartered Bank.

The said Bank draft will be packaged inside a U.S Embassy Official Envelope to
be sent to you at no cost to your home address. And the time frame for delivery
is 72 hours, which is 3 days since it would be delivery by our deligate.

Meanwhile, a "Custom Clearance Certificate" must be obtained from the Benin
Customs Authority at a fee of $60 USD for a full clearance certification
on the Bank draft.

Hence, the $60 dollar fee must be paid within 24 hours upon your receipt
of this notification via Ria Money, western union or Money Gram, so that
all necessary arrangement can be made ahead of time. The fee should me sent
directly to the "Embassy Protocol Officer" with the below information:

Recipient's Name: Frank Eze
Destination: Cotonou - Benin
Test question: Present Year
Test answer: 2015
Amount: $60 Dollars

Please take note that the "Custom Clearance Certificate" and the Bank draft
will be packaged together inside the U.S Embassy Official Envelope for
immediate dispatch to your home address. Hence, you are advised to
furniture your home address and Phone number only and comply
as requested to enable me discharge my official duty accordingly.

Respectfully Yours,
James Knight
US Ambassador to Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam