419 scam: "DEAR FRIEND"<geoff@webshooter.com> Dear Friend

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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.

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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)
- "a security company " (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
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.
- cap_paulbenson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DEAR FRIEND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cap_paulbenson@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 14:19:32 +0530
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,
I know this email will come as a surprise to you although it is with good motive. Before i go any further, I want to share more about myself. My name is Captain Paul Benson from Morton Grove, Illinois United States. I am an American Citizen currently serving in Afghanistan. I formally served in Baghdad Iraq in 2003. I’m 37yrs old and I am an only child of both parents. My dad was a US marine before he passed away. My mom was a stay at home mom and she passed away in October 1st 2007.
The reason i contacted you is that, i want you to help me receive a consignment (Box) that i deposited with a security company in Baghdad Iraq, The consignment (Box) contains 10million dollars. Please note that the security company does not know that the box contains money. I listed it as containing family belongings.. Anyway i think i should tell you how i came into possession of this money. In 2003, I was the one commanding the US 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. On our raids of 23 and 26 April 2003 in Baghdad, we came across a huge amount of money in containers. Please visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm for confirmation of this story After we discovered the money, Me and five other officers hide some part of the money that we discovered and returned the rest to US Central command.
I am going to be posted to your Location in the coming months so i will be most thankful to God if you can receive the consignment from the security company on my behalf. I am offering you 3million while 6million is for me, then the remaining 1million for Charity Organization. I do pray and hope you are a honest person as i strongly believe honesty is the basis of any meaningful relationship trust reliance Assurance conviction Devotion loyalty faithfulness Commitment dedication observance.
Note: All the documents used in lodging the consignment (Box) with the security Company are all in my possession. l will send them to you as soon as you show
your willingness to assist me in receiving the consignment from the security company.
Let me know if you are interested then you send me a mail in my private email address (cap_paulbenson@hotmail.com) so i can give you more details.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours Sincerely,
Capt. Paul Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam