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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • jonathan_owus@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DR JONATHAN OWUSU <jowuu006@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jonathan_owus@yahoo.es>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:03:24 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL



Dear Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Dr.Jonathan Owusus, credit Accounts officer of the Eco Bank LTD. Ring RD Branch,Accra, Ghana. I got your contact from the World Trade Center (WTC) Regional office Accra,Ghana.Although the details of my intention was not made known to them.Actually i listed your name amongst four other names and prayed over them and i decided to contact you directly.I have a concealed business suggestion for you.Before the year 2005 bomb blast that took place in United Kingdom our client General.Ibrahim Moussa who was with the Iraq forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty Five millions United State Dollars only in my branch.Upon maturity several notice was sent to him. Again after the bomb blast another notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later find out that the General and his family had been killed during the bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Gen. Ibrahim Moussa did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank.
So, Twenty Five millions United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration of 2 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Gen. Ibrahim Moussa so that you will be able to receive his funds.
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen.Ibrahim Moussa, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.
After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the movement of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.There is no risk involved at all in this matter as we are going to adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue.Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for you and 5% for any expenses incurred during the course of this operation. Should you be interested please send me your private phone and fax numbers for easy communication and I will provide you with more details of this operation.Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
please contact me on my private email address below ; jonathan_owus@yahoo.es

Best Regards,Dr.JONATHAN OWUSUCredit Account OfficerECO BANK LTD.1
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam