419 scam: "Mr Peter Ben"<admin@lorenz-architekten.de> LOVE

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "infonewben001@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Peter Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infonewben001@gmx.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 09:56:47 +0100
Subject: LOVE

Dear Friend,

I am Peter Ben, Personal banker and account officer to the late UWE
Gemballa who was murdered in South Africa, before his death he was the
former CEO of the Porsche tuning company that bears his name.

My urgent need for a foreign partner has made me to contact you for this
transaction. I got your contact from yahoo Tourist search while I was
searching for a foreign partner.

As this message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it all just
sure of your capability and reliability to champion this business
opportunity when I prayed to the good Lord about you.

Before his death he left the sum of 22Million USD with the ABSA Bank of
South Africa were i currently work and all attempts to communicate with him family was to no avail and he never included any next of kin on this account and until now no one has stepped forward to lay claims on the entire funds.

Therefore i require your partnership to stand as his next of Kin to enable me prepare all legal paper works in your name to have the funds moved out in your name, and if you agree do respond back to me to enable me furnish you with more details as to the way forward in how this can be achieved.

Immediately you receive this letter. Please indicate your Willingness by
sending your information to enable us enter into the official stage of
this transaction.

I await your response.

Thanks,
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Peter Ben
ABSA Bank
Johanessbourg,
South Africa.
Private Email: infonewben001@gmx.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam