419 scam: "Cos Mos benson"<darke1417@freeserve.co.uk> COMPASENTION

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347090937820 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- w.mrs15@megamail.pt (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Cos Mos benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.mrs15@megamail.pt>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 10:43:35 -0800
Subject: COMPASENTION

COMPASENTION

My dear Friend/Partner

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail

finds you in an excellent condition of health. But if you do not remember me,

you have received an email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar

business proposal which we never concluded. I am using this opportunity to

inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with

another Greek Merchant who financed it to a logical conclusion. I thank you for

you’re great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account, due to

one reason or the other best to known you at that time.

Due to the effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed during the

course of the transaction, I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you

with the sum of $1.200,000.00.(ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND USA DOLLARS)I

have left an international certified bank draft for you, worth about

$1.200,000.00 cashable any where in the world. My dear friend I will like you to

contact my secretary Mrs. Jennifer Williams and comply with him so that he will

send the draft to you without any delay. At the moment, I 'm very busy here in

Paraguay South American, trying to invest my own shares of the funds I and the

new partner. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this

is from the bottom of my heart.

CONTACT NAME: Mrs. Jennifer Williams ADDRESS: No. 46-Lloyd Estate, Lagos,

Federal Republic of Nigeria.EMAIL:w.mrs15@megamail.pt PHONE: +234-7090937820

therefore, you should send her your full Name, telephone number and contact

address for his reference and make further arrangement with him on how you want

to receive your check.

Thanks you in anticipation for your past efforts and God bless you.

Note: to avoid any scams victims, any email you received without the consent of

Mrs. Williams disregards it immediately, so that you can received your fund

legally without any hitches.

Dr Cosmos Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam