419 scam: "Mr. Owo Bia"<owobia078@gmail.com> CAN I TRUST YOU DEAR?

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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:

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:
- "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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Owo Bia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <owobia78@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:10:55 -0800
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU DEAR?

Hello My Dear Good Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your entire family.

I am Dr Owo Bia. I formerly work with the Central Bank of Nigeria, under Packaging and Courier Department before I get stroke after the bomb blast, which came up 2 February 2003.

Here is the web site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm.

Also it was during this bomb blast I lost my darling wife with two of my children remaining only one son leaving with me now, due to this my son and I need your assistance to secure this fund.

Because of the incident I resign from the bank for a treatment in London-UK, which I have spent a lot of money.

But now am back in Nigeria I got your contact through your country short listed directory, I want you to help me clear this package that is already in overseas which I shipped through our CBN accredited courier agent but the contents of the package is US$10.5, 000,000.00 all in US$100.00 bills, but the courier company does not know that the content is money That I have in the package. I deposited it as family treasures.

All I need from you now is your full details.

(1) Your full names.
(2) Your postal address.
(3) Your private cell phone and fax number.
(4) Your international passport or Drivers license copy If you have any.

I hope at the end of this transaction we all will be at a great benefit to our families, you will have 30% and 55% will be for me while 15% will be used to balance all the expenses after the transaction..

My identity must not be revealed to anybody. If this arrangement is okay by you, I will also send the keys to the boxes to you immediately you received the consignment for security reasons.

Other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Owo Bia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam