419 scam: Benjamin Dickie Gardner <office.benjdick@gmail.com> LETTER

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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024037573 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- benj2office@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Benjamin Dickie Gardner <office.benjdick@gmail.com>
Reply-To: benj2office@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 09:53:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: LETTER

Greetings,

Before I
start, I must firstly apologize for this unsolicited proposal to you. I am
aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a
relationship, but as time goes on you will realize the need for my action.

My
name is Mr. Benjamin Dickie Gardner, of Zenith Solicitors LLP and personal
attorney to late Ibrahim Saleh who died with his wife and the only daughter in
the Egypt Air flight 99 which crashed on November 1st1999, view details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/502503.stm).

Before
the death of Late Ibrahim Saleh Talaat, he maintained a fixed deposit account
with a U.K investment Bank. Based on this discovery, I now seek your permission
and support to have you stand in as a next of kin to the Late deceased, as all
documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the release of these
funds, all amounting to the tune of (£10,000,000.00 GB) Ten Million British
Pounds Sterling Only to any nominated account of your choice.

I
propose an offer of 40% of the total amount to be yours after the transfer has
been successfully concluded. Let me have your Full Name and Mobile Numbers in response to this proposal
if you are interested. Please reply immediately to my private email address
(benj2office@gmail.com).

This
business will be concluded immediately as i have traveled to London
on the request of the bank.

Sincerely
Yours,

Mr.
Benjamin Dickie Gardner

+44-7024037573

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam