419 scam: "AMBASSADOR JAMES ENTWISTLE" <test@bestel.com.mxl> United State Embassy in Benin Republic

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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)
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.
- +22998809341 (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.
- jamesentwistlem98@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AMBASSADOR JAMES ENTWISTLE" <test@bestel.com.mxl>
Reply-To: jamesentwistlem98@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2017 23:15:10 -0700
Subject: United State Embassy in Benin Republic

United State Embassy in Benin Republic
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, BENIN REPUBLIC
Phone: +229 98809341
E-mail: jamesentwistlem98@yahoo.com

Attn: My Dear,

Welcome to the United States Of America Embassy Benin, This is Ambassador James, U.S. Embassy in Benin. We write to notify you that U.S. Embassy here in
Benin has inter-vain in your case due your total sum of $4,800, 000, 00, Inheritance fund owning you in Africa. We are here to represent and protect the
legal interest of every American and any others Country like UK and Asia that involved in such businesses of every Foreigner and especially to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member Country Citizens domiciled here in Benin. This site contains information on the United States
of America and Benin. It provides pages on the bilateral relationship between the two Countries,as well as on foreign policy, economic affairs, domestic
issues, and U.S.society and values.The various sections of the Embassy work together as a team to address the goals of the Mission.

We write to inform you of the breaking news about your Inheritance fund of ($4.8 million USD) which you have been expecting sending money for so longer,
without a good result up to date, even many of them contacted you in form of Western Union Department or Money Gram stated your fund was with them, from the financial regulatory bodies of this Country, from their report I gathered that your Inheritance fund which was scheduled to have been remitted to your destination point by some corrupt officials with intention of asking you to pay endless money. However, I went to BENIN International Criminal Organization after USA Embassy Board of Directors
for investigation, and in their bid to launch a full scale investigation into the saga, they found out that the reason why you were swindled in the past and
still not been able to receive your expected fund till date was because you were dealing with the wrong people without involved USA Embassy representative, unscrupulous elements, and impostors that were impersonating.

Further more,USA Embassy have took the chance to an emergency meeting with the Government of Benin, and it was resolved that you shall be receiving
$4,800,000,00, we have summon the amalgamated union governing all the official office stores in this Country and their MD referred your fund to step aside
that we will handle your payment total sum of $4,800,000,00,by our self, so, it better for you to stopped communicate with any other office here in BENIN,
because,if you do is for your own risk.Though the Claim Fund Origin certificate charges that you were supposed to pay was initially on the high
price but has been cut down to $75.00 by the USA Embassy in BENIN as part of our corporate social responsibility to considering the poor economic situations
that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the Claim Fund Origin of their entitlement.

Note that the $75.00 is the only money that you shall pay to MIKE HENRY before they shall start program the payment details that shall enable you have access
of your $4, 800, 000, 00, Note that the $75.00 is compulsory for you to pay as it was agreed in the meeting that you have to pay the $75.00 which will serve as re-confirmation to your original file, meanwhile you are advised to reconfirm the below information to us avoid mistaking.

1. Your Full Name: _________
2. Your Direct Cell No: _________
3. Your Home Address: _________
4. Your City: _________
5. Your Country:_________
5. Your ID: _________

Note that you are expected to pay only $75.00 for re-confirmation of your file and you are to pay it to Western union or Money Gram to Benin Republic as the
origination of the Fund in the favor of MIKE HENRY . Send the $75.00 through with the information below for reconfirmation of your file that will enhance the release of your Fund,

Receivers: ________ MIKE HENRY
City: _________COTONOU
Country: _________Benin Republic
Test Question: ______Now?
Answer: ________Now
Amount: _________$75.00
Sender s name: _________
MTCN____________________

Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your $4,800, 000, 00, and your
subsequent payments. Note that any unclaimed funds will be return to the Government of Benin after 3days. so you are urgently advised to comply with our
directives so that you shall receive your fund without stress again.

AMBASSADOR JAMES ENTWISTLE
Director, U.S. Ambassador Benin Republic
+229 98809341
Website: Ambassador | United States Diplomatic Mission to BENIN
Ambassador Ambassador James F. Entwistle - United States Ambassador to BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam