419 scam: "Mrs Mary Benson" <mrsmarybenson@gmail.com> Attention:

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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:

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.
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.
- mrsrosebenson01@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mary Benson" <mrsmarybenson@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsmarybenson01@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 02:45:40 +0200
Subject: Attention:

Attnention:

My name is Mrs Mary Benson of the International Monetary Fund
investigation unit. Attached pictures was received and forewarded to our
office here in London UK today 14TH OF MAY 2010 , requesting that your
unclaimed fund be paid to Messers Jacobs Enterprises.

In the said letter of change of beneficiary/ownership, representatives of
messers Jacobs enterprises states that you are dead and as such your fund
should be paid to him as the next of kin to you.

Because of the elaborate global scam, we decided to contact you for
confirmation. If after two working days, no responce is received from you,
it will be assumed that you are dead and as such authorisation and
approval will be granted on behalf of Messers Jacobs enterprises to
claim/receive your fund.

Confirm this pictures and reconfirm your Information to me the followings.

(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) company's name,position and address.
4)profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of int'l passport or any scanned identity to prove yourself.

and how you want your fund paid to you without further delay if you
are still alive. Send your responce to my email address:
mrsrosebenson01@yahoo.com.hk

Regards
Mrs Mary Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam