419 scam: "Mr Owen Brown"<info@details.com> YOU ARE TO BE PAID THE SUM OF ($5,000,000.00)

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +2348088490922 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- owenbrown7775@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Owen Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <owenbrown7775@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 17:37:32 -0700
Subject: YOU ARE TO BE PAID THE SUM OF ($5,000,000.00)

Dear Sir/Madam ,

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Contract/Inheritance file presently on our desk.We found out that you have not fulfilled the obligations giving to you in respect to your contract payment.

Secondly, you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials in the bank as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately.

After the Board of director's meeting at held in Abuja,we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem. have arranged your payment through our SWIFT PAYMENT CENTRE(ZENITH BANK).

This is part of an instruction/mandate passed by the Senate inrespect to overseas contract payment and debt re-scheduling. You will be provided with access to an online account in which your funds, Five million Unites States Dollars($5,000,000.00); will be deposited.

As soon as you have been provided with the online account details, you can login to the banks website and then transfer your funds to your designated bank account. If you like to receive your fund this way,

Kindly reconfirm your

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Full residential address:
(3) Phone And Fax Number:
(4) Age:
(5) Occupation:

We shall be expecting to receive your information as you have to stop any
further communication with anybody or office aside our.

NOTE : YOU ARE TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO THE E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW, WHICH IS MY PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS

owenbrown7775@gmail.com

Thanks for your co-operation.

BEST REGARDS,

Mr Owen Brown
+(234)-808-8490-9228
Contact Email: owenbrown7775@gmail.com

CC: SENATE PRESIDENT
CC: ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICES
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [CBN]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam