419 scam: "US Embassy"<zito@gampnet.com.br> Your $1.5 Million Ref#: USA 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:
- "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.
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.
- ehnb.com@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "US Embassy" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ehnb.com@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2017 20:32:59 -0400
Subject: Your $1.5 Million Ref#: USA EMBASSY

From United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin:

This is Mr James A. Knight, the Former United States Ambassador to Republic of Benin. I went to Cotonou Benin Republic during the last ECOWAS meeting and realized that you are yet to receive your fund. According to the current USA ambassador to Benin, Mrs. Lucy Tamlyn, you refused to pay the last fee for the transaction to be completed.

I am contacting you this morning because Benin government authority wants to divert your fund to their Treasury since you are unable to claim it. However, I have sent a message through the current Ambassador, Lucy Tamlyn pleading with them to wait until I hear from you today to know the why you abandon your awarded $1.5 Million. According to Lucy Tamlyn, the last fee you are to pay is $75.00.

I need your urgent response as soon as you receive this email with the reasons you abandon the fund. If you don't want it, we could change your name to another American citizen because we cannot afford to lose the fund to Benin Government. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your prompt reply is expected.

Thanks.

Mr. James A. Knight
Former US Ambassador to Benin Republic.
Email: ehnb.com@gmail.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam