419 scam: Maria George Benson <dr.sanusi@yahoo.cn> Dear Friend

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- bensonmaria495@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maria George Benson <dr.sanusi@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: bensonmaria495@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:05:40 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend ,

My
Name is Maria George Benson. I got married to Mr. Benson in the year
1951 and almighty God blessed us with three (3) kids, 1 boy and 2 girls
but my husband later died last two years after suffering for cancer. My
husband is seventy five (75) years old before he died. Meanwhile, I am
contacting you now after confirming your contact information from
International Chamber of Commerce here in United Kingdom (UK).

I
made lots of enquiries before I got your contact information but before
this, I asked almighty God in heaven to provide me a reliable and
sincere someone who will help me and my Family especially now we are
going to enter into Business relationship.

Most importantly, my
Husband deposited some boxes with a Security Company which contain the
sum of Ten Million Five Hundred United States Dollars ($usd10.5m) and I
need someone who can assist me in claiming the said boxes from the
Security Company before we shall enter into Business investment. If you
are ready for this business, I will provide you the information of the
Security Company for more details before meeting with them for the
claim.

I want you to stand as my Business partner.Upon your
readiness in meeting with the Security Company, I will furnish you with
all the details needed in this transaction. I am now waiting for your
urgent response to this effect.MAIL( bensonmaria495@yahoo.com )

Kind Regard.
Maria George Benson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam