419 scam: Mr Benjamin Odume <palash@popularbd.com> ARE YOU ALIVE OR DEAD??

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:

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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "benjaminodume@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Benjamin Odume <palash@popularbd.com>
Reply-To: Mr Benjamin Odume <benjaminodume@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 16:24:48 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: ARE YOU ALIVE OR DEAD??

WESTERN UNION HEADQUARTER
N0:190 POPE JEAN PAUL
STREET CHRIST IN ME AVENUE LAGOS,
NIGERIA.

ATTENTION: ARE YOU AWARE?

Are you alive or dead? The reason for this question is that we
received an email from Mr. John Green. He said that you are dead and you have given
him Letter of Authorization before your death?

He also said that he is your junior blood brother that you died on the 12th of January 2015.

Furthermore, we told him that what is holding the transfer of your
fund ($850,000.00) to you is the transfer fee of the sum of $175 dollars only and
that the fund has been approved for transfer in your favor.

And we asked him to call back on Monday, so we can confirm from you
first.
Are you aware of this? He also promised to pay the transfer fee of the
sum of $175 dollars only on Monday.

If you are alive Please, quickly get back to me to this email: (benjaminodume@outlook.com)
let me know if you are alive or not,and also with your full information .

BEST REGARDS.
MR.BENJAMIN ODUME,
THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER
OF WESTERN UNION LAGOS
NIGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam