419 scam: "Mr.Benson Williams" <annw35048@gmail.com> Attention And Greetings

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Benson Williams" <annw35048@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefile20002@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2023 03:16:50 -0800
Subject: Attention And Greetings

International Treasury Department
Contact Person Mr. Vincent Robert
Address 635 East 8th Street.
Holland, Michigan 49423 City United State Province/State Country/
Region United State

Attention and Greetings:

I am Mr. Vincent Robert, The Chairperson in charge of Treasury
Department, International wire transfers of United State Federal
Ministry of Finance.
I want to inform you that your Payment File was brought to my desk
today to Cancel because the director & management of the WESTERN UNION
MONEY transfer have declared to divert your fund to the
government treasury account just because you cannot pay the signed
wire transfer fee.
In reasoning wisely to this complain i told them to wait until i hear
from you today so that i will know the reason why you decide to reject
such amount of money USD$10.5 millions which is your rightful & legal
overdue compensation funds just because of signed wire transfer fee.

The reason why I sent this email to you is because it's your sweat and
for this reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if
you can send USD$150 today because i have already arranged your wires
ready for its daily wires to you but failing to do this,
I will allow them to have power over your fund and am very sorry if
you failed as this is the last chance.
Therefore, send the USD $150 immediately you receive this email today
and email your full name and address to me if you want your USD $10.5
millions be send to you by western union money transfer.
but the maximum amount officially allow for it per day wire to you is
USD $4,500 per day until you receive your complete USD $10.5 millions
from here.
The second option is for you to send me the full detail of your bank
account if you want your fund be fully transfer by direct bank to bank
wire transfer to your account at once.
After you have sent the $150 and email me now if you are ready,
you are to indicate your wish to receive your funds as i have stated
above and the funds will be release to you without any hitch.
Remember that I have done my best for you and i will make sure that
your wire transfer will begin to be releasing to you from the moment
you sent this $150.
We are waiting for your reply.

Thanks.
Mr. Vincent Robert.
Treasury Department, International
Wire transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance United State.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam