419 scam: "Paul Bowen" <paul.bowen24@yahoo.co.uk> Message!!

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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 pounds" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Bowen" <paul.bowen24@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: paulbowenesq@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 10:21:41 -0500
Subject: Message!!

Dear Friend,

I wish to intimate you with a request that would be of immense benefit to
both of us. Being an executor of WILL, it is possible that we may be
tempted to make fortune out of our client situation, when we cannot help
it,or left with no better option.

The issue I am presenting to you is about my client who WILLED a fortune
to his next-of-kin. It was most unfortunate that he and his next-of-kin
died on the same day in the sharja plane crash of Tuesday 10 February
2004.

I am now faced with confusion of who to pass the fortune to. According to
the English law, the fortune is supposed to be bequeathed to the
government. However,i don"t belong to that school of thought which
proposes that the fortune of unlucky people be given to the government.

I seek your assistance to act as the beneficiary of the inheritance,and
lay claim to the legacy(12.4million pounds sterling),which this my
unfortunate client bequeathed to his next-of-kin. For now, It is only
known to me, as my client has great confident in me. Everything will be
left between you and I. The share would be 40% for you and 60% for me.All
I have to do is to amend the WILL stating you as the beneficiary to the
12.4million pounds sterling.

I prefer not to divulge my full identity so as not to risk being debarred.
The English Bar considers it a breach of the oath of the English Bar
Council. I need not emphasize to you that the sensitivity of this issue
need not be toyed with by neglecting its confidentiality.

At this point I want to assure you that your true consent, full
cooperation and confidentiality are all that are required for us to take
full advantage of this great opportunity.

This is an opportunity that people rarely have, I look forward to hearing
from you soon.

Yours truly.

Barrister Paul Bowen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam