419 scam: Alexander Benson <jj331551@gmail.com> Hello Friend

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Alexander Benson <jj331551@gmail.com>
Reply-To: alex03887@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 00:04:31 -0700
Subject: Hello Friend

Dear Friend.

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Alexander Benson, a
merchant in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). I have been
diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer, which was discovered very late, due
to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defied all forms of
treatments and therapy, and right now I have only about a few months
to live, according to medical experts.

I have not lived my life particularly well, as I never really cared
for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I
was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on
my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now, I frankly
regret all that as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God
gives me a second chance to come into this world, I would live my life
in a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my
property and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as
well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and
accept my soul, and so I have decided to give my life-long accumulated
wealth to charity organizations in order that it would give succor and
comfort to the less privileged in our societies, as I want this to be
one of the last good deeds I did on earth. So far, I have distributed
money to some charitable organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and
Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I can no
longer do this myself.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charities and to the less
privileged in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the money
to themselves, hence I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to
be contented with what I have left for them. The last of my money
which no one knows of is a huge cash deposit of Nine Million Four
Hundred Thousand United States dollars that I have with a Security
Company in Europe for safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect
this deposit and disburse it to some charitable organizations and to
the less privileged.

Please send me a mail to indicate if you will assist me in this
disbursement. I have set aside 20% for you for your time and patience.
While I wait to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire
family.

Remain blessed.

Regards,

Alexander Benson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam