419 scam: "Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard" <info@usa.org> GOOD NEWS

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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. )
- "the 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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "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.
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.
- +2349023297921 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard" <info@usa.org>
Reply-To: officialoffice245@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:54:20 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS

OFFICE OF THE U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
1075 Diplomatic Dr, Area, Abuja
Telephone: +234 902 329 7921

Attention: Beneficiary,

I am Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard,United States ambassador to the Nigeria Republic. I shall be coming to your country for an official meeting by this week Monday 29th, August 2022 and I shall be bringing your Consignment Trunk Box containing $15.5m along with me as an Ambassador to Benin Republic, i will not go through Customs or any government agency. I am a US GOVERNMENT AGENT and I have the veto power to go through Custom. As soon as I am through with my meeting, I shall then proceed to your registered house address with your Consignment Trunk Box.

Without missing words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter experiences with various scammers claiming to be high government officials and thereby defrauding you of your 'hard-earned money'. The activities of these scam has changed your perspective about conducting business on the internet, and you now believe there is no genuine business that can be conducted on the internet. Well, I am an 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 "Consignment Trunk Box" to you at your doorstep within 48hours in order to differentiate myself from the many Benin Republic, Nigeria and other government officials you have dealt with.

I am a full citizen of the United States, but I was on a Foreign Mission here in Nigeria Republic as a US Ambassador. Hence, I am making every effort to ensure that no citizen of the United States and other parts of the world is cheated. 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.

Trust is both an emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you expose your vulnerabilities to people, but believing they will not take advantage of your openness. Logically, it is where you have assessed the probabilities of gain and loss, calculating expected utility based on hard performance data, and concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In practice, trust is a bit of both. I trust you because I have experienced your trustworthiness by merely believing in what I have said, even when you have not seen me, and because I have faith in human nature.

Frankly speaking, I understand that anyone in your shoes will feel betrayed, but I still want you to show me your trust by giving me the benefit of doubt on this delivery arrangement. My identity and personality is verifiable, and I promise to deliver the consignment to you safely without any hitch. Your Consignment Trunk Box ($15.5m) must be registered as an ambassadorial Luggage as planned to enable me pass through Customs and other airport agencies freely without any interception. Do not allow this mission to die off because of the registration fees $197 US Dollars as the said fees will enable me to arrive at your doorstep with your Consignment Luggage.

I will use my position and personality to deposit the Consignment Box worth $15.5m USD into your bank account without questioning from the financial monitoring authorities, since all documentation proving the legitimacy of the funds has been processed. Please don't see me as one of the numerous dubious people you have dealt with in the past. I am a different person entirely and I come from a different continent. I have the American spirit in me and I hate cheaters. I promise to always uphold the national unity of the United States. Please reply back ASAP and let me know your possibility of sending the $197 US Dollars today.

My Flight is Monday 29th, August 2022 and i expect you to comply before time so that the delivery will be completed as planned.Kindly reconfirm your delivery address as stated below to enable me keep my records:

Your Full Names:..
Home Address:.......
Telephone Number:.....
Nearest Airport:.......
Id Card if any:..........

I hope you will understand and follow my instructions to enable me to serve you better.

Signed
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard
US AMBASSADOR TO Nigeria REPUBLIC
Telephone: +234 902 329 7921

Anti-fraud resources:

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