419 scam: Rev Mike Benson <ocalan0@terra.com> Please Read and contact him ASAP

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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:
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- unitedbankafrica@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Rev Mike Benson <ocalan0@terra.com>
Reply-To: unitedbankafrica@citromail.hu
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 22:21:19 -0400
Subject: Please Read and contact him ASAP

OFFICE OF REVEREND FATHERS
REV. MIKE BENSON
SAINT MARY MOORFIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH
4-5 ELDON STREET LONDON,
EC2M 7LS UNITED KINGDOM
www.stmarymoorfields.net

Dear: Beneficiary

I wish to inform you that i have concluded the transaction successful with the manager of UNITED BANK AFRICA (UBA) and I am currently in (St Thomas' Hospital, @ Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7EH) waiting for the right time of God. I was diagnosed of kidney cancer by Dr John Parsons who said I have just few days to stay alive.

I dropped a (check in bank draft) with the manager of UNITED BANK AFRICA for Your compensation, by trying to assist me, I want you to help finish my good race by using the fund I left behind to build churches in my memory in every part of the world of your choice, and also help the less privilege and make a good life out of your self and family, the amount is US $10.5Million, that FUND is all my life servings.

I did this out of sympathy and good desire, I want you to make very good use of this fund to assist the less privilege and build churches in memory of me as I have few days to stay alive, I have a kidney cancer and I know I will die soon.

God will crown you with more blessing for your good efforts and I hope you will not disappoint my last wish before my death. Contact the Bank Manager with your bellow details immediately, the Bank Manager Contact information is bellow.

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Full Residential Address: (P.O.BOX NOT ALLOWED)
(3) Direct and Current Phone:
(4) Present Country:
(5) Copy of International Passport or Drivers license identification:

Mr. Philip Oduoza
The Chief Executive Officer,
Foreign Payment Department
United Bank Africa (UBA)
unitedbankafrica@citromail.hu
Fax: +234 1 263 7558

Please make sure you contact him immediately to claim the fund I left behind,

Yours Sincerely
Rev. Mike Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam