419 scam: "Mr. Ben" <ken14@benson.sg.tn> Your Payment Notice

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "fred_martins@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben" <ken14@benson.sg.tn>
Reply-To: <fred_martins@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:51:57 -0600
Subject: Your Payment Notice

CONGRATULATION,

This is a brief notice regarding your payment released. We are glad by notifying you regarding your payment approval and released by the United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). In conjunction with the United Nations (UN), and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), you are hereby awarded and entitled to receive sum of Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$5,500,000.00) as a compensation. Furthermore, you are advise to contact your Payment Agent, MR. FRED MARTINS for your payment and claim of your fund (US$5.5m).

Contact Person: MR. FRED MARTINS.
E-mail Address: fred_martins@qq.com

Regards,

MR. KENNETH BENSON.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam