419 scam: Ben Richardson <tonyblacman90@yahoo.com> BENEFICIARY/INHERITOR

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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.

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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:
- ",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)
- "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)
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447045717913 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- oasislaw@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ben Richardson <tonyblacman90@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: david.robertsbr@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:43:01 +0700
Subject: BENEFICIARY/INHERITOR

Bar. Ben Richardson Oasis Attorneys & Notaries Tel:+44 704 571 7913 E-mail: oasislaw@lawyer.com Sir/Madam, Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am Ben Richardson [Esq.], It is with Heavy Heart, I am reaching you regarding the death of my late client, am the legal adviser, a Legal Practitioner in London, United Kingdom. I got your contact from the British Council, and I have decided to contact you so that we can carry out this mutually beneficial business transaction. My late Client My late client Mr & Mrs. Armando Barbara Pinto, until his death deposited a total of US$20,000,000.00 three years ago with SNS Security Bank, London. He was a Director with Shell Petroleum Development Company, Gabon. Since I am the personal attorney of My late client, he gave me the custody of the deposit documents, and as such entrusted me with the Legal Rights to transfer and execute this deposit to any Next of Kin after his demise. I have since tried to locate any Next of Kin to my late client without success, hence I decided to contact you so that you can rightfully stand as the next of kin to inherit the deposited sum by virtue of the fact that you will be trust worthy and can provide an offshore account outside the United Kingdom to receive the deposit. This is a staggering sum, and I need a reliable person to help me with necessary arrangements to transfer the deposited sum out of LONDON. By virtue of my position as an Attorney, I will arrange the documents in your name so that you can rightly apply as a Next of Kin to Late my client in a capacity of a Family Member. You will be entitled to 40% of the total sum should you be willing to assist me in this business transaction,and I will get the remaining 60%. I will prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this transaction for accountability purpose. Please forward me the following details: 1,Your Full Name 2,Your Mailing Address 3,Telephone and Fax Number 4,Occupation and age Please contact me as soon as possible so that we can start processing the documents.I look forward to hearing from you. Yours truly, Bar. Ben Richardson [Esq.]

Anti-fraud resources:

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