419 scam: "BENSON THOMAS" <bensonthomas77@rediffmail.com> URGENT

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- bensonthomas16@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BENSON THOMAS" <bensonthomas77@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: bensonthomas111@rediffmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:34:56 -0600
Subject: URGENT

FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF AUDITOR
INTERNATIONAL AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OFFSHORE CREDIT COMMISSION
SOUTH EAST ASIA.
EMAIL ADDRESS: bensonthomas16@yahoo.com

RE: YOUR OUTSTANDING REMITTANCE AMOUNT DISCOVERED

I AM WRITING TO YOU IN A TOP CONFIDENTIAL LEVEL AS I MADE AN ASTONISHING
DISCOVERY DURING THE COURSE OF MY AUDITING FOR THE JUST CONCLUDED FISCAL
YEAR.

A WHOOPING SUM THAT RUNS INTO MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES DOLLARS WAS
UNCOVERED BY ME WITH YOUR NAME AS THE MAIN BENEFICIARY. THIS FUND WAS
ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO THIS OFFICE BY YOUR PARTNERS AFTER WHICH THE
OPTED FOR PAYMENT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.UNFORTUNATELY THE FUND WAS
RETURNED HERE IN MALAYSIA AS THE SAFEST VENUE FOR DISBURSEMENT.EVER SINCE
THEN NOBODY HAS COME FOR THE CLAIM.

ALTHOUGH,YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING SERIES OF SEPARATE FRUITLESS ARRANGEMENT TO
HAVE THIS PAYMENT RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE BUT THE WHOLE TRUTH IS THAT YOUR
FUND HAS BEEN LYING HERE WAITING FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.

NOTE THAT IF YOU KEEP ON DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT HENCE YOUR FUND IS LYING
HERE UNCLAIMED AND THIS THEY WILL NOT TELL AS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
EXTORTION.

CONSEQUENTLY, I WISH TO ASSIST YOU TO RELEASE THIS FUND ONLY IF YOU ARE
WILLING TO PLAY ALONG WITH ME AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY
AS MY OFFICE IS AT STAKE IF ANYONE SHOULD KNOW OF MY INVOLVEMENT TO ASSIST
YOU.

FURTHERMORE, I SHALL BE REQUESTING FOR JUST 5% OF YOUR TOTAL PAYMENT VALUE
WHICH SHALL BE GIVEN TO ME ONCE YOUR PAYMENT IS FINALIZED AND YOU RECEIVE
IT IN YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT.
ONLY THEN I SHALL SEND MY BANK DETAILS FOR MY OWN SHARE ACCORDINGLY.

IT IS IMPORTANT YOU REALIZE THAT I AM IN THE POSITION TO MAKE USE OF MY
AUTHORITY HERE TO GET THIS REMITTANCE FINALIZED WITHIN 48HRS, ONCE MY
REQUEST HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND I HAVE YOUR WRITTEN ASSURANCE AS TO THIS
REGARDS.

IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO ENABLE URGENT CONCLUSION.

1) CONFIRMATION OF YOUR ASSURANCE OF 5% TO ME THEREAFTER.

2) YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE REMITTANCE.

3) CONFIRMATION THAT THE FUND BELONGS TO YOU.

UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE I SHALL IMMEDIATELY WIRE THE FUND TO YOUR
NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 48HRS.

AWAITING YOUR URGENT COOPERATION AS I AM INTERESTED IN AN URGENT
CONCLUSION OF THIS ISSUE.

BEST REGARDS,

BENSON THOMAS

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam