419 scam: "MR.JOHN BEN" <ben_mr.john@yahoo.com.ph> MY DEAREST FRIEND, GOOD NEWS TO YOU !!!

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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:

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:
- "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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mrdanielkoffi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.JOHN BEN" <ben_mr.john@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: mrdanielkoffi@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2012 06:31:54 -0400
Subject: MY DEAREST FRIEND, GOOD NEWS TO YOU !!!

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING YOU THAT I HAVE
FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUND TO THE BANK IN ITALY,
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND, WHOM BASED ON AGREEMENT
RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND
EFFORTS.

PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC
COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED.
NEVERTHELESS, I CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS,
THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEANWHILE I HAVE A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU.

CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN ACCRA GHANA HIS NAME IS MR DANIEL KOFFI ON
THIS BELOW INFORMATION
DIRECT PHONE NUMBER: +233248839352
EMAIL ADDRESS: ( mrdanielkoffi@yahoo.com )

I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM
OF NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN CHECK
($900,000.000.00), WHICH I SET OUT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION, PLEASE I
WANT YOU TO ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID
AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEDAY, BUT RIGHT NOW AM TOO BUSY FOR
SOME TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH
MR DANIEL KOFFI.

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND.

BEST REGARDS,
MR.JOHN BEN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam