419 scam: "Mr Alfred Benson"<info@sender.org> INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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 dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2348144315899
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.
- mrgabrielwilson@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Alfred Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alfredbenson13@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2013 14:41:27 +0200
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Greeting To You , There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $8.500, 000.00USD ( EIGHT Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118000/03, at the owner of this email address. The International Monetary Fund contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code. They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, but the maximum amount you will be receiving every day starting from tomorrow is $5,000.00 as reflected in our transfer system daily until the funds is completely transferred to your address. So we require some more information in order to complete this transfer. FULL NAME: ....................................... COUNTRY............................................ FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:............. MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:............. OCCUPATION:........................... MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:.......... TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER............. In order to resolve this problem, please email us via Western Union® Solicitors Fund Verification Department or you can call the director of this western union Rev. Timothy White on +234 8144315899, As soon as this information is received to enable him verify your file and transfer your funds to you, Your payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transferring Bank. When emailing, please use reference number (250-153) as your subject for him to be sure that you are the right beneficiary to receive this funds. (mrgabrielwilson@yahoo.co.uk) Best Regard Mr Mark Kelvin Customer care of Western Union® Office

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam