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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.marybethleonnard@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2022 10:29:20 -0700
Subject: OFFICE OF THE US AMBASSADOR TO YOU


WITHOUT MENTIONING WORDS, I AM 100% CONVINCED THAT YOU HAVE HAD A 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 ANY COUNTRY 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 COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR FUNDS OF $5M ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS AN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA , I AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS. AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE).

YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH IN THIS DELIVERY THAT MAKES ME WONDER. YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. YOUR PACKAGE($5M) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $150.THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN THE NEXT 50 HOURS VIA WORLD REMIT SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US. CONTACT MY SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY FOR THE REGISTERING FEE WHICH IS $150 ONLY.
============================== ============================== ==
Kindly forward below details to:
Contact Person: Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard
======= U.S to Nigeria Ambassador
* E-mail: info.marybethleonnard@gmail.com
Enquiries WhatApp Phone:
number +1-609-310-1328
Send below details for re-confirmation
============================== ============================== ==
1 Your Full Names:
2 Your Tel/Mobile Number:
3 Your Nationality:
4 Current Country:
5 Your contact Address:
6 Occupation:
============================== ============================== ==

Note: Your Consignment will be delivered to you immediately you pay the delivery fee which is One Hundred and Fifty Dollars only ($150) U.S. Embassy Corporate Office has decided to boost Users and Companies a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY by this Program and Initial Public Offer said in a press release.

Note, That the principle of deduction does not exist in this mode of payment because you are the only person that has the authority to withdraw or tamper with this $5Million as mandated by the U.S. Embassy Corporate Office board of Directors.

THANK YOU
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard
U.S Ambassador to Nigeria

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