419 scam: "nick benson"<nickbenson28@yahoo.com> Dear beloved one

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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:
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "million 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)
- ",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)
This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
- nickb1962@terra.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "nick benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nickb192@terra.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 15:10:45 -0700
Subject: Dear beloved one

PLEASE READ AND RESPOND TO MY CRY!!!

Dear beloved one...

As you read this; I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is NICK BENSON, a merchant in Brazil . I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I was very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing
I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world, I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so I have decided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia . Now
that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organizations in Asia and U.K, they refused and kept the money to themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge deposit of Eighteen million dollars $18,000,000.00 that I have with a reputable financial institution in Europe . I want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to various charity organizations worldwide.

I have set aside 15% for you once you do this for me. May the Lord be with you.
Please reach me through my personal email address: nickb1962@terra.com

Please remember to keep this known to yourself alone and I for now, as
I am doing this as a contribution to life on earth. I will also appreciate if you provide me with the following informations, so that i can put you through the whole process.

(1) Your complete names.
(2) Your private phone numbers including mobile.
(3) Your present contact address

I will really appreciate your quick response. Once again this is my personal e-mail address: nickb1962@terra.com

God bless you,
Mr. Nick Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam