Have you received an email from a bank official, "Benson Adeshola" at "Standard trust bank Plc",
claiming that he has found a "dormant account" or money from a deceased customer
with no next of kin, or no will, and he needs you, a foreigner to help him take
the money, to keep it from being turned over to the bank or government?
It is a scam. Even if it weren't a scam, it would be a felony,
fraud and theft. But it is all nonsense, a scam made up to get money from you.
See the example below, an actual email from the scammer, sent to a victim.
The scammer intends to to get hold of your money instead, by conning you into sending money for various "fees" to free the
"funds in escrow".
If you would like a step by step
explanation of how this type of "Advance Fee Fraud" works, click here!
Note some of the obvious scam clues that we have
highlighted in the email below,
such as excessive/incorrect use of CAPITAL letters, terrible spelling, grammar
and punctuation, the use of free email accounts rather than a domain and website that
matches the company's name, etc.
From The Desk of: Mr. Benson Adeshola
Standard trust bank Plc
Plot 245 Adeolu Hope Wall Street
Victoria Island Lagos-Nigeria
Email:benson.adeshola@web2mail.com
Dear Friend,
My Name is Mr. Benson Adeshola, a Banker with
standard trust bank Plc; I am an account Officer to Engineer Anderson from
your country, who used to work with Shell Oil Development Company. Here in
after shall be referred to as my client On April 21, 2003, Anderson, his
wife, and their two children were involved in a car accident along
Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives since then I have made several inquiries to my client's
country's embassy to locate his extended relatives, After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I contacted you to assist me in repatriating the
Funds before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by standard
trust bank Plc where these huge deposits were lodged.
I got your contacts through my personal research,
and out of desperation decided to reach you through this medium.
I will give you more information as to this regard
as soon as you reply. I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to
you due to security network placed on my day to day affairs I cannot afford
to visit the embassy again because of my work, so that is why I decided to
contact you and I hope you will not betray my confidence in you.
Particularly, standard trust bank Plc where the
deceased had an account valued at about ($14 million U S dollars) has issued
me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated
within the 6 weeks.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over go to 3years now, I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued
at ($14 million u s dollars) can be paid to you and then You and I can
share the money.50% to me and 45% to you and 5% for my expenditure made
during the repatriating of the fund into your account.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable
us seeing this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Enclose your private telephone number for easy
communication.
You can also reach me via my alternative mail
address: benson.adeshola@web2mail.com
I await your response
Best Regards,
Mr. Benson Adeshola
(External Auditor Accountant)
