419 scam: "Edward Ben"<bossman_yabe@yahoo.cn> ATTN: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +2348060413322 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mrarthall11@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrarthall11@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:07:04 -0000
Subject: ATTN: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION,

Dear Friend,

We the members of financial accounting are very pleased to inform you that
(ATM Card Number:4278763100030014 ) and the Security pin has been credited in
your favor, your personal Identification Number is 822 which you have to
forawrd to our agent for identification. The ATM Card value is $1 MILLION USD.

Kindly note that this is legit and any act like this is very appreciated and
will be well honoured, You are adviced to contact our delivery company for the
delivery of your ATM CARD to you.

Company : TOP CHRONO TZF BENIN REPUBLIC
Contact Person : Mr. Art Hall,
Email : (mrarthall11@yahoo.co.jp )
Telephone Number: +234 806 041 3322.

Below are the vital informations of yours needed for the delivery of your ATM
CARD to you.

FULL NAME:...................
DELIVERY ADDRESS:.............
PHONE NUMBER:................
COUNTRY:....................
OCCUPATION:.................
SEX:.......................
AGE:......................

Below is your ATM CARD information.

ATM Card Number: (4278763100030014)
Security Pin Code : 7546
Withdrawal per day : $5,000

The only money you have to send to them is the delivery charge of $155 for the
delivery of your ATM CARD to you and note that you have to keep your ATM CARD
information secret to avoid diverting/stealing of your money because we
registered your ATM CARD as a parcel.

Yours faithfully,

Thank's and god bless you.
Barr. Edward Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam