419 scam: "Dr. Ben"<dr.ben-corolla@att.net> priview and respond urgently

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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "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)
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drbencorolla@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:57:57 -0700
Subject: priview and respond urgently

LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
MTN/FIFA WORLD CUP 2010
SOUTH AFRICA 2010, South World Cup
Corporate Headquarters Fleet House,
Cantonment Accra- Central
South Africa.

Dear Sir,

Firstly, I must solicit your strictest confidentiality in this transaction. I came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential business transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.

My colleagues and I,are top officials of the Local Organizing Committee on the Award of Contracts for the RE-CONSTRUCTION/UPGRADING of National Stadiums in South Africa to FIFA standard in preparation for June 2010 FIFA World Cup . Our duties include evaluation, vetting,approval for payment of contract jobs done for Government of South Africa .

In order to commence this business,we solicit for your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said funds. The Republic of South Africa has since approved the sum of US$57,500, 000.00 (Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for us as the contract sum,and the sum of US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million United States Dollars) has also been paid to the foreign contractors concerned as contract Entitlements for the contract done on the reconstruction of Stadiums to FIFA standard.

We are now left with US$27,500,000.00 (Twenty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) being balance in the account which we intend to transfer abroad into a safe and reliable account to be disbursed amongst ourselves, but by virtue of our positions as civil servants and members of this panel,we cannot do this by ourselves,as we are prohibited by the `Code of Conduct Bureau(Civil Service Laws) from opening /operating foreign accounts in our names, making it impossible for us to acquire the money in our names.

My colleagues and I have agreed that if you or your company can act as the beneficiary of this funds on our behalf, you or your company will retain 30% of the total amount of US$27,500, 000.00, while 60% will be for us (three members of this panel) and the remaining 10% will be used in offsetting all debts/expenses incurred during the transfer processing (both local and foreign) in the course of this transfer.

Information needed for now to set-up your contract files documents include:

1. YOUR NAME:..............................................

2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS:.......................................

3. YOUR TELEPHONE/FAX.......................................

4. AGE.......................................................

5. MARITAL STATUS...........................................

6. YOUR OCCUPATION:..........................................

I hope you would treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

Your Urgent response will be highly appreciated.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.

God Bless,
Dr. Ben Corolla.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam