419 scam: ALIXS BENSON <alixs_benson@btinternet.com> My greetings,

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer into your account" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: ALIXS BENSON <alixs_benson@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: alixs_benson@live.fr
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:46:44 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: My greetings,

My greetings,

Good day and how was your days, before I proceed, i have introduced myself to you, I am Miss Lisa Benson by real name. I am looking for a person that is very honest and caring loving ,and that always come closer to me everyday, someone who have human feeling.I have a serious problem which is an injury that lingers in my soul for almost seven months now and i want somebody who is reliable and honest who will advise or give me a suggestion on how to overcome the crisis.

Please I want you to help me to proved an account in which this money been transfer into , you will help me to invest this in a good business and you will take care of the business and help me to find a good school in your country for me to contiune my eduction. you see this money is my inherited from my late father who was killed by his brother, my late father deposited this money in the bank here and I am the next of kin , so I want this money to be transfer out of this country, the amount is 6.5 m us dollars, please if you will be a helper hand, I will like you to tell me so that I will give you the contact of the bank for you to know how the money will be transfer into your account, I am small girl I dont know about banking system, Please I will love to have your full informations,

(1) your full name (2) your telephone and fax number (3) your country.
I am urgently waiting to hear from you.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours sincerely.
Miss Lisa Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam