419 scam: "Mark Benson"<mark_authentication@hotmail.com> Attention: Beneficiary,

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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "mrmarkauthentication@live.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmarkauthentication@live.cn>
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:58:28 -0700
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,

Attention: Beneficiary,

The U.S.A Government and World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved to pay you part payment of your contract,Inheritance and Lottery Fund payment Valued at USD$5.5m in conjunction with British Government.

This decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name (MRS: JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your outstanding contract/Inheritance/award funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin.

We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to represent you. Please let us know also if you are aware that we are almost ready to transfer part payment of $5.5m USD of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank account stated below:

Bank Name: Washington Mutual Bank
Address:1723 Palmdale Bulv.Palmdale Ca. 93550
Acct # : 3573813158
Rout # : 322271627
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
Beneficiary: JANET WHITE

If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to this email immediately by contacting the Chairman of the International remittance department Mark Benson (email: mrmarkauthentication@live.cn) For immediate transfer of your funds be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office, you are required to Re- send your information so that we can reconfirm that your still alive as following below this is to enable us make necessary arrangement of paying you your part payment in cash in your country through our fund delivering agent via diplomatic means.

1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) RESIDENCE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY
3) PERSONAL CELL PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE PHONE NUMBER

Yours Sincerely,
Dr.Mark Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam