419 scam: "Accountant Benedith Njoku"<benedithnjoku@yahoo.com.hk> From the desk of Mr. Benedith. Njoku

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- benedith.njoku@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Accountant Benedith Njoku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benedith.njoku@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:58:40 -0700
Subject: From the desk of Mr. Benedith. Njoku

>From the desk of Mr. Benedith. Njoku
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
Email: benedith.njoku@yahoo.com.hk

Dear Friend,

I Am Mr. Benedith. Njoku the director in Charge Of Auditing and Accounting Section of (Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc) with due respect and regard, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will benefit the both of us at the end of the transaction. In order to transfer out the sum of (US$10 Million) Ten Million United State Dollars) from one of the leading banks in Nigeria Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc into a foreign account provided, I need a foreigner who is reliable and honest person who is capable and fit to receive this money through a bank to bank wire transfer. During the course of our auditing last month, I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 2006 and since 2009 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files, I discovered that the owner of the account did not states any Next Of Kin, hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing by our manag!
ement.

The owner of this Account is Engineer{Fredrick} a foreigner, and an industrialist, and no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proveto me to be perfect and risk free. However, I am revealing this to you believing in God that you will never let me down when the money is transferred into your foreign nominated bank account. at the conclusion of this business, I will give to you 40% of the total amount, while 55% will be for me and 5% percent will be used for any expenses we might run into during the processing of the fund
Transfer.

Am looking forward to hearing from you. Reply me back at this alternative E-mail address: benedith.njoku@yahoo.com.hk you can include your telephone or mobile number for easy Communication.

Best Regards

Mr. Benedith Njoku

Urgent response needed.
***********************************************************************
The information contained in this message may be CONFIDENTIAL and is intended for the addressee only. Any unauthorized use, dissemination of the information or copying of this message is prohibited. If you are not the addressee, please Notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete this message. Thank you

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam