419 scam: "Paul Owos" <paulowos2003@gmail.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.

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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- paulowos1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Owos" <paulowos2003@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paulowos2001@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:51:02 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

Before I proceed I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you,
i am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to start a
relationship, but as time goes on you will realize the need for my action.

I am Barrister Paul Owos, a legal practitioner,and the personal attorney
to late Mr.George Attilo, a national Of your country, who used to work
with a Gold Mining Company here in Accra Ghana,in after referred as my
client.

On the 21th October, 2006, my client, his wife and their only daughter
were involved in a car accident along Kumasi express Road here in Ghana.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my
clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last
name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund
valued at US$6.5 million left behind by my client before it gets
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD
where this huge amount were deposited.

The said GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty one
(21) working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years
now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased,so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up
for claim.All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us
see this transaction through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please Get back to me through this email address: paulowos1@gmail.com.

Best Regards,
Paul Owos,Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam