419 scam: "Mr. Kwame Owusu" <kwaowuf77@att.net> BUSINESS ASSISTANCE/ CO-OPERATION

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Kwame Owusu" <kwaowuf77@att.net>
Reply-To: <kwameowus@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:51:23 -0000
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE/ CO-OPERATION

My Dear Friend

I am Mr.Kwame Owusu Regional Manager of International Commercial Bank(ICB) Accra Ghana.

Please I know that this message will come to you as a shock. I Hoped that you will not

expose or betray this trust and confident that I am about to establish with you for our

benefit, I have a transfer business deal to share with you from my bank to your country.

The funds belong to a late Spanish contractor, he happen to be one of the victim in the

2004 bombs explosion in Madrid, I need your full support to transfer Twenty Million Two

Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only {$20.2M} from his Bank Account into your account

within 14 working days as one of the relatives.He also have 250kg of Gold in our vault.

All legal documents to back up the claims will be obtain legally here, I shall be

directing you as it is progressing, I don't want this money to go into our Bank recovery

account as abandoned fund. I will come over to your country as soon as the fund is

transfered successfully into your account.

This is 50/50 business deal because of your account and support, also this matter should be

a confidential between you and I. Delete this letter if you are not interested.

Upon the receipt of your reply and indication of your capability, I will send to you a

draft text of application form to apply for the money and more details, I don't want anyone

here in the bank to know my involvement during the process.

PLEASE STATE YOUR INFORMATION BELOW TO KNOW YOUR CAPABILITY OF HANDLING THIS DEAL.

1. FULL NAME..........
2. TELEPHONE NUMBERS.......
3. YOUR AGE......
4. YOUR SEX.........
5. YOUR OCCUPATION........
6. YOUR COUNTRY AND CITY......
7. YOUR HOME ADDRESS..........
8. MARITAL STATUS............

Waiting for your response.

My humble Regards

Mr.Kwame Owusu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam