419 scam: "Mr. Ben Bruce" <ER@proof.ocn.ne.jp> Attention Please dear Beneficial

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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:
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2349065508241 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westerunion.moneytransfer@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben Bruce" <ER@proof.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Ben Bruce" <westerunion.moneytransfer@consultant.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2019 04:38:13 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Please dear Beneficial

Attention Please dear Beneficial.

This is to enlighten you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in getting your long over due payment due to excessive demand of money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies, Diplomatic agents and fraudulent barristers after which your fund/payment remain unpaid to you.

I am Mr. Hikmet Ersek, the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of The Western Union Company,I have been assigned to take responsibility of your funds remittance to you without further delay.

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5,000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD2.5m via western union by this government.

I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls through out that yesterday even this morning. Now, I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up this $5,000.00 to enable us send another $5,000.00 today as you know we will be sending you only $5,000.00 per day.

Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the $5,000.00 and call me back to send you another payment today,

My direct phone line is +234 90-6550-8241, Manager Mr. Ben Bruce Email:( westerunion.moneytransfer@consultant.com ) once you picked up this $5,000.00 today. Here is the western union information to pick up the $5,000.00

Sender$B!G(Bs First Name____Kevin
Senders Second Name____Morba
Senders Country KENYA
Text question___When
Answer__45Minutes
Amount$5,200.00
MTCN Number___#6486232830

I am waiting for your respond once you pick up this $5,00.00. Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information's.

Thanks
Mr. Ben Bruce.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam