419 scam: "DR. COMOS BENSON"<postmaster@asia-info.net> COMPENSATION

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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.
- +2348123275998
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.
- brown.john25@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. COMOS BENSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brown.john25@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2003 08:41:02 -0700
Subject: COMPENSATION

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 trust worthiness 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 cash able 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 share of the funds

i they 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:Rev. John Brown ADDRESS: No. 46-Lloyd Estate Lagos,.EMAIL:

brown.john25@yahoo.com.hk PHONE: +234-8123275998 therefore, you should send him 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 receive your fund legally without any

hitches.

Dr Cosmos Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam