419 scam: "BEN SMITH" <unitedstatetreasurydept@hotmail.com> MY REQUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP !!

joewein.net

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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)
- "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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "BEN SMITH" <unitedstatetreasurydept@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <benettsmith24@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:53:58 -0800
Subject: MY REQUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP !!

From:Ben Smith,
Group Group Executive Director insurance and investment of
CitiBank Group
Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB

MY REQUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP !!

My Name is Mr.Ben Smith, the Group Executive Director insurance and investment of Citi Bank Group London-UK, former account officer to Mr. Frank Edwards, an American Citizen, who died in an earth qauke disaster, Before the death of Late Frank Edwards, he maintained a fixed deposit account with my Bank (Citi Bank Group London-UK) After our Auditors meeting last week i discover the dormant account, 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 (£17.5,000,000.00).Seventeen Million Five hundred thousand Pounds Sterling). Only to any nominated account of your choice.

I propose to offer of 40% of the total amount for your assistance after the transfer has been Successfully concluded, if you are Interested.

Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely Yours,

Ben Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam