419 scam: "THOMPSON OWEN"<jonathanbaily74@att.net> OPEN ME

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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)
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "tom_owen@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "THOMPSON OWEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tom_owen@w.cn>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 00:56:20 +0530
Subject: OPEN ME

Dear Friend,

I am interested in establishing and operating a very viable business as a means of investment abroad. I do not know too well on how this is done in
your country, so I will need you to help me in this regard. My preference is any good profit yielding business and I would appreciate any good business ideas
you could come up with.

I will also appreciate you help me to acquire properties like homes and lands for the proposed investment on the Sum of Fifteen Million United
States Dollars ($15,000,000 USD) For a brief on my personality, my name is Thompson Owen from United Kingdom.

I want you to also help me to find a good home where my family and I will live in a (Bungalow House of Three bedrooms apartment).
Please I expect your prompt response so that we can proceed swiftly. I will need your direct phone number and fax numbers for easier
communication with you if I am unable to access my emails. Contact me via Email tom_owen@w.cn or Tell- 0044-8712340281. On this note, I will offer
you 10% of the total sum for your transparent assistance towards this proposal.

Best Regard,
Thompson Owen.
0044-8712340281.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam