419 scam: "Mr. Michael Raynor"<test@utool.xyz> Attention!!

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mrraynor.embassy@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Raynor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@banque-centrale-benin.org>
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 16:15:31 -0800
Subject: Attention!!

Attention!!

My name is Mr. Michael Raynor,Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Africa/ Asia Affairs.The United States Senate had confirmed my nomination on February 5th 2017 after being nominated for this position by U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan 20th, 2017. My credentials as the new Deputy Chief of Mission appointed were presented to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Washington. on 6 Feb 2017 (first round) 20 Feb 2017 (second round) I am a career member of the senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor whose diplomatic career has been spent mostly in Africa or working on African issues.

I served most recently as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Prior to this, I was the U.S. Ambassador to Mali, and I have served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Tunisia, Senegal, and Togo. Other overseas postings include Niger, South Africa, India and Singapore. In Washington, I was the senior desk officer for Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Assistance. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history and French language and literature in University of Oregon in Eugene, and I also attend the University de Haute Bretagne in Rennet, France, from 1979-1980 as a Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellow, and also attend the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

However, following the resolution of the meeting held with His Excellency President Donald Trump and other Heads of Africans and Asian Leaders at Washington DC USA, And some members of the Federal House of Senate, an agreement was reached that the sum of $2.5 Million USD must be paid out to you in the form of a compensation for the years you have wasted in waiting for your funds to be released. Having been listed as one of the Beneficiary of the scam victims package, the Sum $2.5 Million USD
compensation fund has been instructed to be paid out to you in the form of a CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT drawn on Standard Chartered Bank,duly signed with the official white house stamp.

The said BANK DRAFT will be packaged inside a U.S Embassy Official Envelope to be sent to you via Postal Mail at no cost to your mailing address. And the time frame for delivery is 72 hours, which is 3 days since it would be sent via a Postal Mail Service. Meanwhile, a "Custom Clearance Certificate" must be obtained from the Benin Republic Customs Authority as that's your primary obligation in which you must fulfill hence the delivery, And i have already make an enquiry of the cost of this certificate from Custom office over here and is going to cost you $325 to obtain that.

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 mailing address. Hence, you are advised to comply as requested to enable me discharge my official duty accordingly. It's your primary obligation to obtain the "Custom Clearance Certificate from the country origin of the fund.

Congratulations!!!
Respectfully Yours,
Mr. Michael Raynor
Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Africa/ Asia Affairs.
Email: (mrraynor.embassy@gmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam