419 scam: "Mrs. Adela Clements" <helso56@verizon.net> DIAMOND TRUST BANK BENIN WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU PLEASE.

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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)
- "million us 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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "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))
- "thomasjunior100@ws.tc" (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: "Mrs. Adela Clements" <helso56@verizon.net>
Reply-To: thomasjunior100@ws.tc
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 13:18:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DIAMOND TRUST BANK BENIN WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU PLEASE.

Diamond trust Bank Plc Benin. (Registered No.1026167).
Address: P. O. Box 738, Eagle Court 75 King Streets,
Hammer smith Cotonuo, W6 Benin

Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract and
Inheritance Fund Payment Notification
From: Diamond trust Bank Plc Benin.
Date: 10th of May 2010

Attn: Beneficiary,

The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved To Pay You Part Payment Of Your Contract/Inheritance Fund Payment Valued At Usd$3.5million Us Dollars, In Conjunction With British Government And Diamond trust Bank Plc Benin.

This Decision Was Made Last Week, With This Development. A Woman By Name (Mrs. Olivia Hernandez From South Dakota, United State Of America) Came To Our Office With An Application Stating That You Gave Her The Power Of Attorney To Be The Beneficiary Of Your Outstanding In 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 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 $3.5Million, Used Of Your Outstanding Funds To Her Nominated Bank Account Stated Below:

BANK NAME: FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK & TRUST.
ADDRESS: WATERFORD CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58854
ACCT #: 0079813108
ROUT #: R4H687093
SWIFT CODE #: HGKCXI78
BENEFICIARY: Mrs. Olivia Hernandez

If You Are Not Aware of the Above Instruction, Do Respond To This Email Immediately By Contacting the Chairman of the International Remittance Department (Mr. George Thomas Junior for Diamond trust Bank Plc Benin)

Mr. George Thomas Junior.
Email Address: (thomasjunior100@ws.tc)

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 Send To Him An Email.with your information.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Adela Clements.
DIAMOND TRUST BANK PLC BENIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam