419 scam: basha <blume@xlink.at> Urgent business transaction

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "million 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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- bashabenjamin101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: basha <blume@xlink.at>
Reply-To: basha <>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:27:31 +0100
Subject: Urgent business transaction

--
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Hello,

I am Mr Benjamin Basha, I served in the Libyan presidency on defence and my
status put me in a position of responsibility and authority.

I am interested in doing business with you as I am in possession of some
funds, US$ 65, 000, 000 .00 (SIXTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS),
which I wish to invest as a matter of urgency through you.

If you are conversant with public issues, Libya recently went through
terrible strive/civil war. I was mandated as Head of Delegation to purchase
arms/ ammunitions by the government of Libya (Gaddafi Government).

I had already finished negotiations and this said sum was already
transferred into an escrow account to a Bank in Hong Kong, which I am the
only signatory to this escrow account.

I was in the Republic of Malta, (Republic of Malta is just 221 miles from
Tripoli, Libya) for the arms/ ammunitions negotiations when I learnt of the
death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. I immediately stopped all negotiations on
the arms purchase as the funds was already in an escrow account as funds
meant for Offshore investment with the space of the Fund Manager left blank.

Presently, the existence of this money is unknown to any body and is backed
up by a Certificate of Clean fund issued by the Hong Kong Government
absolving the money from drugs or money laundering activities. I find it
necessary to invest this money offshore in viable business ventures through
your company or your personal guidance and assistance. I have worked on the
whole arrangement and only expect your favourable response to put the
machinery into motion that will further our mutual personal and business
relationship.

I am currently in the Republic of Malta on political asylum grant as such I
cannot move these funds out of the Escrow account in Hong Kong as the law
prohibits an asylum seeker of such activity or even to operate an account.

You may contact me on the phone number or email address provided below so I
can give you details of the whole arrangement I have made which are
absolutely smooth and will ensure no delays once we work hand in hand with
each other.

I await your esteemed response while counting on your sense of
confidentiality, as it is my desire for this to be done as directly as
possible. I will offer you 20% of the total money and the remaining 80% will
be for my investment in your country. Please, kindly contact me on telephone
number +356 3550 0046 or Email: bashabenjamin101@gmail.com

This is a deal and I would appreciate if we keep it that way, in any case
you are not interested then do not bother responding, just ignore the
conversation.

Thanks for your time.

Regards
Benjamin Basha,

Anti-fraud resources:

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