419 scam: "Mr.Benson Rodrick" <mrbensonrodrick.830@rediffmail.com> what time over there

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin 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.
- stephen.adams576@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Benson Rodrick" <mrbensonrodrick.830@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: stephen.adams576@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:52:17 +0530 (IST)
Subject: what time over there

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.I AM MR STEPHEN ADAMS, I WORK IN THE ECO-BANK COTONOU,BENIN REPUBLIC OF WEST AFRICA, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT,I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ECO-BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS BOX THAT IS ALREADY IN OVERSEAS WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ECO-BANK ACCREDITED SECURITY COMPANY AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX IS ($20,MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BELONGING TO OUR LATE CUSTOMER WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT MY LATE CLIENT HAVE IN THE BOX.

ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS TO FORWARD TO ME THIS BELOW
INFORMATION,

YOUR CURRENT/PRIVATE MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBER AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,YOU WILL HAVE 40% AND 60% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY.

IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU RECOMFIRM YOUR DELIVERY INFORMATION SUCH AS, YOUR FULL NAME?
YOUR HOME ADDRESS?
YOUR COUNTRY?
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER?
YOUR AGE?
YOUR OCCUPATION? PLEASE EMAIL ME AT ( stephen.adams576@gmail.com ) FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING YOU THE CONSIGMENT BOX CODE NUMBERS TO OPEN THEM.

NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH E-MAIL OR PHONE FOR SECURITY REASONS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR STEPHEN ADAMS.
PHONE;+22993959153
E-MAIL; ( stephen.adams576@gmail.com )

IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL AND FEEL THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER, SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS ON HOW TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT BOX OF MONEY DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS LET ME KNOW.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam