419 scam: "MR. BEN S BERNANKE"<ben_reserve

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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BEN S BERNANKE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ben_reserve_board3@att.net>
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:00:42 -0800
Subject: VERY URGENT

BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
33 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10038
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Attn: Fund Beneficiary

Contract fund credit from bank federal reserve board

This is to let you know that we received a credit instruction from the federal government of Nigeria to credit your account with your inheritance fund worth US$10.5million from the Nigerian government reserve account with our
bank, Federal Reserve Bank Of New York.

However, what we require from you in order to commence the transfer is your banking particulars where you want your fund to be transferred.

These are the information needed from you in order for us to proceed on the transfer.

{1}. Your full name and address=
{2}. Your telephone, and fax=
{3). Your bank name and address=
{4). Your a/c name and numbers=
(5). Your swift code / routing numbers=
(6) .Your current occupation=

Be informed that transfer will commence immediately we hear from you with your banking particulars. Once more, bank Federal Reserve board will not hesitates to credit your account within 24hours in accordance with fund release order regulations.

Your immediate response is highly needed to enable us commence on the transfer.

Congratulation for your inheritance fund.

Yours Truly,

Mr. Ben s. Bernanke
Chairman, Federal Reserve Board

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam