419 scam: Mary Beth Leonard <m.beth1974@yahoo.com> Office of the US Ambassador to Nigeria

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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:
- "registration 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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "million united state 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (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: Mary Beth Leonard <m.beth1974@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ambassadorstuart2016@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2020 19:32:25 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Office of the US Ambassador to Nigeria

Office of the US Ambassador to Nigeria
11 Garki road Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria.

Att: Beneficiary ,

Without missing words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter experience with various scammers claiming to be high government officials banks and thereby defrauding you of your hard earned money the activities of these scammers has changed your perspective about conducting business on the internet and you now believed there is no genuine business that can be conducted on the internet. Well I am American and the internet was created by Americans for the purpose of
creating, awareness for your products/ services and conducting genuine business with ease. I am fully committed to deliver the diplomatic consignment to you. I am a full citizen of the United States but I was on a mission here in Nigeria as a us ambassador to Nigeria. Hence, I am making every effort to ensure that no citizen of the United States is cheated by Nigeria/Benin republic. Therefore, I need your utmost support and understanding to actualize this dream. I also want you to
understand that I do trust you and I expect you to show me the same trust and respect in return since trust is a 2-way street. On the other hand, trust is a relationship of reliance. Trust also means being able to predict what other people will do and what situations will occur.

I shall be sending your ATM CARD worth of ($5, MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) Via Courier Service. (Send your cell phone number and the address where you want your ATM CARD) to be deliver. You have really paid so much in this delivery that makes me wonder. You are a very lucky person because your CARD must surely gets to you and there is nothing anyone can do about it, your ATM CARD worth of ($5, MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) must be registered and the cost of registering it is 250â‚¬, the fee must be paid in the next few Days Via Bank Transfer, so that all necessary arrangement can be made before time will be against us. Contact me immediately for the registration fee which is 250â‚¬ only.

As soon as you send the fee make sure you send me the payment information. I expect you to comply before then so that the delivery can be completed. If you do not comply, then it will not be my fault if you do not receive your ATM CARD.

Thank you,
Mary Beth Leonard,
Us Ambassador To Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam