419 scam: "Mrs. Pamela Johnson" <16fredben@gmail.com> INVESTMENT 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:

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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "million united state 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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +234161 (Nigeria, landline)
- +22993234161 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Pamela Johnson" <16fredben@gmail.com>
Reply-To: pameljohnson@live.com
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 12:05:33 +0200
Subject: INVESTMENT LETTER:

Dear Sir/Madam

I am Mrs. Pamela Johnson, a financial consultant based in Libya, I am right
now hospitalized in Republic of Benin due to accidental gun shot of
poisonous bullet in my legs as the war was going on in Benghazi Libya last
month.

In sumarry of my business proposal as I dont really know how and where my
health condition will lead me.. I am a single lady with no child;, I have
(US$15.000,000.00) Fifteen Million United State Dollars packaged in a Metal
box and was deposited with a private equity investment trust company here in
Benin for safe keeping only.

I wishes to invest the above mentioned amount in a stable and profitable
business outside Africa, But due to my illness as a result of the gun bullet
poison that has almost circulated all over my blood stream, i have not been
able to make any move nor make inquiries over my future invesment plans.

But all the same, My interest is in companies with potentials for rapid
growth in long terms. I am interested in placing part of the investment
plans in your care for better ideas and successful management based on my
present health condition, so please if you can sincerely handle this project
on my behalf considering your country's by-laws allow foreign investment.

Then, you can contact me for more details via my direct telephone number
(+229 93 234 161) and my e-mail: (pameljohnson@live.com) with your
reference.

NB: The fund is drug free and has no money laundering related matter.

I await your kind response.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Pamela Johnson
EMAIL: pameljohnson@live.com
Tel: +229 93 234 161.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam