419 scam: "Mr. M. Bent" <consultant@123.com.sv> VERY IMPORTANT...

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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:
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "clearance receipt" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. M. Bent" <consultant@123.com.sv>
Reply-To: mbent2010@videobank.it
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:22:52 +0100
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT...

Greetings,

I am Mr. Mark Bent, a UK Citizen now residing in London and I am 58 years Old.
I am one of those who took part in the 7th phase of the United Nations
Compensation Commission (UNCC) in 2007 but was refused payment. For more
information's on UNCC, check the website:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm

In the course of my efforts to have them pay my compensation fund, I
had to run
into some person(s) who claimed to be working for the United Nations but I
later discovered that they are fraudsters and scammers. This was after I have
paid them over $72,000.00 trying to get my payment but all was to no
avail. So,
I decided to contact the United Nations Compensation Fund office in Geneva,
Switzerland and I was directed to the UK government who in turn directed me to
one Mr. David M. Harris, Senior Partner of a reputable firm, FULBRIGHT &
JAWAORSKI LLC, London. He is the Accredited Attorney assigned by the UK
Government for the compensation purpose. My contact with him made me to
understand that I have been dealing with the wrong people and advice that I
should henceforth stop contacting them. On the process, he led me to the
authorized bank in London where I tabled my documents.

As I am writing this mail to you, I have received my compensation funds of
$2.5M (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). Basically, I
was shown the full lists of those who are yet to receive their compensations
and coincidentally your name and email was among the lists of unpaid
beneficiaries under category "H". I decided to contact you in view of this and
to advice you to stop further contact with anybody offering to help
you receive
your compensation fund because they are only working to collect your money and
at the end it will all be stories. n receipt of your mail notifying me
that you
are truly ready to pursue this claim, I will lead you to Mr. David M. Harris
who will guide you step by step on what to do to receive your compensation
fund. The process is so easy, simple and stress free, the only thing I have to
offer is my Tax Clearance Receipt from the office of HM Customs &
Revenue and a
copy of an Affidavit sworn in the Court which the Attorney used to file for my
claim.

Once I hear back from you, I will disclose the contact information of
Mr. David
M. Harris to enable you contact him and seek his legal services to help you
realize your compensation fund.

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mr. Mike Bent

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam