419 scam: "McGregor Benson"<mcgergorjohnson@yahoo.com> Urgent Response Required

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "McGregor Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.mcgergorbenson@mail.md>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 12:52:18 +0800
Subject: Urgent Response Required

We write to draw your attention to a blocked fund accessible on euro Screen in your name domiciled in our bank awaiting transfer release / clearance which will be regarded as unclaimed funds failure to receive your payment details as stated below within the next 10 working days.
These fund of US 12,000,000 representing partial payment, which indicates from the Fund Origin documents available here on my desk payment made from an
A- rated bank as an over-invoiced contract/inheritance/ IMF/EU debt payment cleared and advised by the IMF/World Bank.

Hence you are advised to furnish us within the next 24 hours the following information required for your immediate payment.

1, Functional Telephone contact:
2, Total over-invoiced contract/inheritance /IMF/EU debt amount:
3, Bank Detail: on request
4, Full name:
5, Contact Address:

Note: that the information so provided remains confidential and will only be used for the purpose of your payment

Regards

McGregor Benson
HSBC Consulting
Leboh Ampang 50100
Kuala Lumpur

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam