419 scam: "Mr William Ben"<sec_williamben2002@yahoo.com.hk> Are you Alive?.

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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr William Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chrisagwu_privatebox@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:42:48 -0700
Subject: Are you Alive?.

Attention:Sir

I am confused again.Who is Kenneth F.Slaughter, your brother.
Address:13742 Judy Anne Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705. He just emailed me
your power of attorney stating that your total entitlement shall be wired
to his account as your next of kin.

He made it clear to us that you are dead and have left all your Title on
his care as your next of kin. He told me that this funds will help him
take care of your children.

Why...Why did you do this without my knowledge. I wish you were alive..He
gave me his bank account in California and new York to split this funds
for him. He is here with the $150 fee involved.

I was surprised why you could not pay your transfer charge for the telex
of your $4.5m wire to your account.

It is not possible for me to release your Title to Kenneth without hearing
from you.. I am crying...after you have suffered for years to get this
funds,,,loose it at the last minute...God forbid.

Please, call me or email if you are alive...Urgent before it is late.

Note if you fail to update us within 24hrs we refer your case to the
INTERPOL DEPARTMENT AS INSTRUCTED BY THE FBI DIRECTOR.

Remember Contact Person's Name is Mr Chris Agwu

Thanks
Yours Faithfully,

William Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam