419 scam: Maria Ben <taxpaye12@gmail.com> ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

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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:
- ",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 advice to " (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.
- smithpaul102@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Ben <taxpaye12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: smithpaul102@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2021 07:37:50 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

Congratulations

Be inform that We have been authorized by the United Nations Debt
Reconciliation Unit,to release your approved compensation and Award of
US$1,500,000.00.However, for security reasons, your compensation funds
of $1.500,000.00 USD has been loaded in ATM VISA CARD and this will
enable only you to have direct control over your funds. You are advice
to contact our director of ATM CARD Payment Center Smith Paul
and request him to send your ATM CARD to you.

Contact him through the below stated information and forward your
personal details to him.

Contact Person:Smith Paul
Phone Number: +299 61531826
Email address:smithpaul102@hotmail.com

REMEMBER TO SEND HIM YOUR FULL INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BELOW TO AVOID
WRONGFUL DELIVERY,

1. Your Full Name:____
2. Address:____
3. Telephone Numbers:____
4. Country:____

NOTE: that the amount to be paid to you is ($1.5million USD) we expect
your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor the payment
effectively.

Best Regards
Maria Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam