419 scam: Captain Paul Benson <paul_benson944@yahoo.com> From Paul Benson,

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
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.
- paul_benson944@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Captain Paul Benson <paul_benson944@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:38:05 -0300
Subject: From Paul Benson,

Dear friend,
My name is Captain Paul Benson, from United State. I am an American citizen
currently serving in Afghanistan, I formally served in Baghdad lraq in
2003, I?m
37yrs old. Please 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
lraq; the consignment(Box) contains 10millions dollars.
Please not 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 position of this money in 2003. I was the one
commanding the US
3rd infantry Division in Baghdad lraq. 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 , if you?re willing
to assist
me in receiving the consignment from the security company, please do send me a
mail on my privet( ID) if you?re interested, for more details....
Email: paul_benson944@yahoo.com
Captain. Paul Benson.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam