419 scam: Former Ambassador of USA to Benin <beninpostoffice4@gmail.com> Former Ambassador of the United States to Benin

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Former Ambassador of USA to Benin <beninpostoffice4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Former Ambassador of USA to Benin <menter_s@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:08:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Former Ambassador of the United States to Benin

Former Ambassador of the United States to Benin,
Department of of State.

My name is Pamela E. Bridgewater the Former United States Ambassador to Republic of Benin, I came down here in Cotonou Benin Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and I was searching for some files that I left in this office before I left and found out that you have not received your ATM Visa Card fund worth of $15.5 m, and I asked the present ambassador Mr. James Knight what happened that you have not receive your ATM Visa Card fund since 2 years ago, and he said that you refused to pay the required fee $960 for the delivery of your ATM CARD to your home address.

I'm contacting you this morning because the director of the ATM CARD center here in Benin Republic said that they will confiscate your ATM CARD fund to the Federal Government Treasury account due to your inability to pay the fee $960.00, i told the director of the ATM CARD center to wait so that i will hear from you to know the main reason why you rejected such amount of money $15.5 million. Well, as US former Ambassador, I want to ensure that no citizen of the United States is cheated by Benin Republic.

My dear, what is the reason why you refused to claim your ATM Visa Card worth of $15.5 million since 2 years ago? Explain to me the reason why you have decided to abandon your ATM CARD worth of $15.5 million. Do you know that the money will change your life? Even though you are reaching, you still need the money to help the poor people around you. I will prefer to replace another person to inherit the fund instead of allowing the Government of Benin Republic to confiscate the fund into the Government treasury account.

Anyway, I know you will love to receive your ATM Visa Card fund, but there must be one reason or the other that makes you to abandon the ATM Visa Card since 2 years ago. As US former Ambassador, I will help you with my position as US former Ambassador, it was a big shock to me that you have not receive your ATM CARD since 2 years now and I'm very sorry for that and I promise, I will use my power as the Former United States Ambassador to make sure you receive your ATM Visa Card as soon as I hear from you.

I will be waiting to hear from you to explain the reason why you decided to abandon your ATM Visa Card worth of $15.5 million and I will see what I can do after hearing from you ok. Remember that I have only 3 days to stay in this country because I came for an ECOWAS meeting and it will end up in the next 3 days time, therefore I am expecting to hear from you today as soon you receive this message.

Regards,
Pamela E. Bridgewater
US Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin

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