419 scam: "Benjamin Christopher" <benjamin.christoph@yahoo.fr> INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COUNTRY

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Benjamin Christopher" <benjamin.christoph@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: bechris@iol.pt
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:19:46 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COUNTRY

Dear Sir/Madam,

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for
permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. I'm Mr. Benjamin
Christopher, Director in charge of audit and account unit department, of
Fund-Link Securities/Finance here in Netherlands. I have decided to contact you
for a mutual beneficial transaction with 100% Risk Free.

In April 2006, Mr. Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of Henan-based
Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved some cash from Asia to our
Finance Firm. The fund arrived during the time Mr. Lu Yunpeng was been tried for
murder in China. As his account officer he instructed that I should put a hold
on the fund that was supposed to go to China pending on the out come of his
trial.

In May 2006, he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed till
date. As his account officer, I was aware that nobody knows about this fund
movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death with him.

Please, you can view the news on this website:
http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml

I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund by transferring the
money to you. I want to work with you on it. The amount involved is Twenty-Two
Million Five Million Euros Only. {22,500,000.00 Euros}.

Please reply back and lets benefit from this golden opportunity. You are my
first contact. I shall wait for days and if I do not hear from you, I shall look
for another person.

Mr. Benjamin Christopher.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam