419 scam: "BARRISTER MRS. SUSAN C BENSON." <aaahhha0@gmail.com> HELLO BENEFICIARY, 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:

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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22999731666 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- chimachukwubarr@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER MRS. SUSAN C BENSON." <aaahhha0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: chimachukwubarr@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:51:17 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HELLO BENEFICIARY, GOOD NEWS TO YOU.

                          COMPENSATION AWARD AUTHORITY & CO.CHAMBERS
                                        (ATTORNEY & COUNSELS AT LAW)
                     ATTORNEY & COUNSELS AT LAW FEDERAL HIGH COURT
                   ADDRESS..:PLOT./80014- COTONOU-PROMISE-LAND
                                 AHHPOLU, COTONOU BENIN RESCENT.


HELLO BENEFICIAR?

IN REGARD TO YOUR EMAIL SENT TO MY OFFICE HAS BEEN RECEIVED, YOUR MAIL CONTENT WAS WELL READ AND UNDERSTOOD, I AM SORRY IF YOU WHERE ONCE A VICTIM OF SCAM HERE IN OUR COUNTRY, AND THIS HIGH COURT HERE BY ASSURE AND PROMISE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AT THE PAST AS THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENIN HAS APPROVE THIS YOUR PAYMENT.

THEREFORE, YOU ARE TO GO STRAIGHT TO ANY WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM CLOSE TO YOU AND MAKE THE PAYMENT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY DELAY WITH YOUR TRANSFER, MEANWHILE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT NOW BECAUSE TIME IS NOT LONGER WITH YOUR TRANSFER AS YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE JUST FEW HOURS AHEAD TO MAKE THE PAYMENT, AND START RECEIVING YOUR TRANSFER BECAUSE AFTER THE GIVING PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT RECEIVING THE PAYMENT DETAILS OF THE $54 FROM YOU, THAN YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL AND YOU WILL LOSE YOUR TOTAL FUNDS, SO BE ADVISE TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THE $54 AS THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT HAS ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT SEND ANY OTHER MONEY AFTER THE $54 OKAY.

SEND THE $54 BY MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW,

3,RECEIVERS' NAME: ====MR. MMA PRINCE

4,RECEIVERS COUNTRY: ======BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:======COTONOU
6,TEXT QUESTION: ====HONEST
7,TEXT ANSWER: ===TRUST

8.AMOUNT====US$54
9.SENDER'S NAME====
10.COUNTRY CODE: +229

THE MOMENT WE RECEIVE THE PAYMENT OF $54 WE WILL RELEASE THE FIRST PAYMENT INFORMATION OF $2.500, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD HEARING FROM YOU SOONEST

YOURS IN SERVICES
BARRISTER MRS. SUSAN C BENSON.

PHONE CALL+229 99 731 666

Email: chimachukwubarr@yahoo.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam