419 scam: "JAMES GEORGE WILLIAM" <1ran770@bellsouth.net> GREETINGS FROM 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:
- "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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +22998228317 (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.
- gill.richard38@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- my sectary gill richards for more details.email: (gill.richard38@yahoo.fr) ambassador james george william payment instruction: (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES GEORGE WILLIAM" <1ran770@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: usaembassy.beninrepublic@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:52:20 +0600
Subject: GREETINGS FROM US EMBASSY

ue Caporal Bernard Anani
01 BP 2012, Cotonou, Benin
Office Tell: +229 98-22-83-17
Website http://cotonou.usembassy.gov/

GREETINGS FROM US EMBASSY

Attention Please!

I am Ambassador JAMES GEORGE WILLIAM from United States i joined the State
Department in 1988. I am a career member of the Senior Foreign Service
with the rank of Minister Counselor. Prior to becoming the U.S. Ambassador
to Benin, I was the Executive Director of the Bureau of African Affairs
from August 2013, following two years as the Deputy Executive Director. I
spent most of my career in Africa, including as management officer in
Harare, Windhoek, Conakry, and Djibouti, and as General Services Officer
in Brazzaville.

I would like to inform you that your funds issue was brought to my office
this morning because the director of the United Bank For Africa (U.B.A)
here in Benin Republic said that they have uploaded your inheritance fund
worth ($10,800,000,00) into a new Visa Card but since then they have not
heard from you, so the case was brought to my office in a view to Cancel
your fund and divert it into government treasuries account, because of
your sudden silence to comply with delivery terms and conditions. Then, I
asked what are the conditions but i was told that you are been required to
pay the delivery charges cost $420 but i told him to wait because there is
no need to cancel the payment that i will do my very possible best to
bring the issue to conclusion since it has been brought to my office.To
the best of my knowledge, i found out that this fund is legitimate and i
advise you should send the delivery charges cost $420 to ship your Visa
Card that contains your inheritance fund that worth ten Million Eight
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only ($10,800,000.00) I guarantee
that this fund will be delivered under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. I will be here guiding you on the
inheritance matter as well as backing you up with all the necessary
information that may be required.

What could be your reason of refusal and chosen to abandon such huge
amount of money? I want your urgent reconfirmation of your delivery
information to me such as your full name, address and telephone number as
soon as you receive this email. Because this is last opportunity you have
to receive your inheritance fund so do not fail to notice this wonderful
moment to have your fund that you have been looking for way to making it
reality. I will be waiting to hear from you to resolve the issue as
quickly as possible for you to receive your overdue payment.

This message contains information about the bilateral relationship between
the United States of America and the Republic of Benin as well as foreign
policy, economic affairs, domestic issues, and U.S. society and values.
Led by the Ambassador, the U.S. Mission works to foster a friendly
relationship between the U.S. and Benin for the benefit of both
countries.you can also contact my sectary Gill Richards for more
details.Email: (gill.richard38@yahoo.fr)

AMBASSADOR JAMES GEORGE WILLIAM

PAYMENT INSTRUCTION:

RECEIVER NAME: JOHN OBI
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEST QUESTION: COLOR
ANSWER: BLUE
AMOUNT: $420 USD
MTCN NUMBER...........................
SENDER NAME...............................

Best Regards,
Ambassador of the United States to Benin
Amb. JAMES GEORGE WILLIAM
American Embassy
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Tell: +229 98-22-83-17
Personal e-mail: (usaembassy.beninrepublic@yahoo.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

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