419 scam: "Rev. Benson Nelson" <manager@info.com> (no subject)

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- rev.bensonnelson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev. Benson Nelson" <manager@info.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: rev.bensonnelson@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 12:54:45 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:

Dear Friend,

My name is Rev. Benson Nelson I am the Branch manager of Hsbc Bank of
United Kingdom Ridge West branch. I got your information during my search
through the Internet. I am 42 years of age and married with 3 lovely
kids. It may interest you to hear that I am a man of PEACE and don't want
problems, but am telling you this because its real and you are not going
to regret after doing this transaction with me. I only hope we can assist
each other. But if you don't want this business offer kindly forget it as
I will not contact you again.

As the branch manager of the Hsbc Bank of United Kingdom, it is my duty to
send in a financial report to my head office at the end of each year. In
my 2010 end of the year balance sheet report, I discovered that my branch
in which I am the manager made Fourteen Million, Seven Hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in excess [14,750,000.00]which my head office are not
aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund on what
we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so
that explains my contacting you for us to work so that you can assist
receive this money into your bank account for us to SHARE. You can have
30% of the total fund.

Note there are practically no risk involved, it would be a bank to bank
transfer, all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor
of this fund who made the deposit with our branch so that my Head office
can order the transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept this
offer to work with me, I will appreciate it very much; also you can
forward your private Telephone number for speedy relation on this matter.

As soon as I receive your response I will details you on how we can
achieve it successfully.

Best Regards Rev. Benson Nelson.

Email: rev.bensonnelson@gmail.com
Tel: +44 703997790

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam