419 scam: "Mr. Benson Stevens" <test@ben.net> Greeting's From Benson Stevens...

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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- mrbenstevens@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Benson Stevens" <test@ben.net>
Reply-To: mrbenstevens@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:42:43 -0700
Subject: Greeting's From Benson Stevens...

I have picked up the trust and courage to write you this letter with divine confidence that you are a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important and confidential transaction, I know this letter may come to you as a surprise because we donâ€™t know before and the rate of scams and fraudulent practices has made it impossible for genuine business deals to be carried out successfully because everybody is afraid of different proposals and offer emanating from so many countries globally.

My name is Mr. Benson Stevens, a Financial Consultant based in UK, I write you this proposal in good faith and if you are not interested, please ignore this mail and go about your normal business, I have very vital information that will benefit our families to give to you, but first I must have your trust before I review it to you because the top governments official involved in South Africa will not want their names exposed for any reason and I hope that you would not betray me.

I will wait to hear from you ASAP. On my private email: mrbenstevens@yahoo.com

Yours faithfully,
Ben Stevens,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam