419 scam: "benedict moful"<patpatwo@yahoo.com.hk> Help The World

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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:
- "huge deposit" (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 us 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)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
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.
- mofulbenedict@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "benedict moful" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mofulbenedict@aim.com>
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 10:13:54 +0200
Subject: Help The World

Greetings.

As you read this, don't feel sorry for me, because it is the destiny of everyman to die someday. I am Mr,Benedict Moful ,
and a naturalised British by birth and a business merchant based in the Dubai I have been diagnosed with Oesophageal
cancer.

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according
to medical experts. I have decided to support charity work; this is what i want to be remembered for.

My belonging which no one knows of is the huge deposit of Twelve Million US dollars ($12, 000, 000, 00) that I have
in a safe keeping company abroad, which I will want you to secure and bestow to charity organizations in any
part of the world of your choice

Please reply me via email: mofulbenedict@aim.com.

For your time and devotion, I have set aside a 30% of this for you.

God be with you.

Regards
Mr.Benedict Moful.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam