419 scam: "George Owen"<mark_edwin@engineer.com> We have just recovered your money (Nov 21)

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "George Owen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <georgeowen@consultant.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:52:52 -0800
Subject: We have just recovered your money (Nov 21)

George Owen
21 Bloomsbury Street
London, UK
Tel/Fax: 442076813844

Dear Beneficiary

Re Payment instruction
This is international debt recovery and reconciliation office United Kingdom, our mandate is to settle all outstanding debt owe to contractors and individuals all over the world, thus this debt must have been originated from awarded contracts, inheritance and sweepstakes lottery, If you fall into this category of contractors, individual or lottery winners we advise that you contact this office immediately. We presently recover most part of funds owe to you.
The directive came in line with the agreement reached in New York U.S.A with the International Monetary Fund -IMF, World Bank London and Paris Club on creditors and overseas credit Commission for immediate settlements of all Intercontinental debts owed to individual from various countries of the world.
In view of the overdue nature of the debt owe to you, you may be instructed to personal visit our offshore payment clearing center to sign all relevant documents and subsequently claim your money.
Please respond with the following:
1-Contact address
2-Direct contact phone number and email id
3-Expected amount owe to you
4-File number if applicable.
We look forward to serving you better.

Best regards,
George Owen
Regional Coordinator
International Debt Recovery and Reconciliation Office

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam