419 scam: "Mrs. Patricia Benita"<mrspatriciabenita1@gmail.com> I HAVE WILLED THE SUM OF $17,250,000.00USD TO YOU...FOR THE HELP OF THE POOR IN

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:
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- barrjohnedward12@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Patricia Benita" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mspatriciabenita@live.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2014 11:28:55 +0100
Subject: I HAVE WILLED THE SUM OF $17,250,000.00USD TO YOU...FOR THE HELP OF THE POOR IN YOUR COUNTRY??

Hello dear,

Though this medium internet has been greatly abused, but I chose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, this correspondent is unofficial and private. Please give me this little chance to explain myself to you, I would have like to meet you face to face before departing from this mother earth but my illness continue to deprive the chance, but I know I am strong even if I die on the process of this operation I will still praise ALMIGHTY.

My name is Mrs. Patricia Benita I am a dying woman who had decided to donate what I have to a reliable individual who will act as I will instruct here. I am 60 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about two years ago. , immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $17,250,000(Seventeen million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows in general.

I will be undergoing a surgery in London, and I pray that I survive the operation because from the doctor’s analysis, my chance for survival is very slim. I have decided to WILL the sum of $17,250,000.00USD (Seventeen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only) deposited in a secured bank in West Africa, to you for the good work of the lord, these fund should be used to help the orphans, the needy and the less privilege. Presently, I have informed my lawyer barrister John Edward about my decision to WILL AND TRANSFER THE INHERITANCE OF THIS FUND to a reliable individual, you are to get back to me immediately if you are interested in carrying out this task, so that I will instruct you on how to get in contact with my LAWYER Barrister John Edward. Here is his E-mail address (barrjohnedward12@gmail.com)

Lastly, I know I have never meet you, but in other to fulfill this which borders me most, I got your email address through my personal search on the Internet for the right person and it was the spirit of God that directed me to chose you among many contacts I was having, my mind tells me to inform you about this, and I hope you act sincerely, please get back to me immediately.
Furnish me with the following information.

Full Name..................................................
Contact Address............................................
Private Telephone Number...................................
Age........................................................
Occupation and Position.....................................

I will appreciate it very much, If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I assure you will act according to my instructions.

God bless you.
Mrs. Patricia Benita.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam