419 scam: "muke usman" <mikeusman11@hotmail.com> GOOD DAYSE IS NEEDEDION FINAL NOTICE (MERRY XMAS)cation. PŒë¸"

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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:
- "from the desk of" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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: "muke usman" <mikeusman11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barr_mikeusman7@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:46:35 -0900
Subject: GOOD DAY

FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER MIKE USMAN.
PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.

DEAR SIR,
MY NAME IS BARRISTER MIKE USMAN, I AM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND I HAVE A CLIENT
WHO IS INTERESTED IN INVESTING SOME GOOD MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY.MY CLIENT IS
A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT PERSON WHO HAS MANDATED ME TO CONTACT YOU OR
YOUR COMPANY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION.MY CLIENT IS BY NAME
MR. CHARLES TAYLOT AND HE WAS THE FORMAL PRESIDENTOF LIBERIA FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. MR. CHARLES TAYLOR MADE ALOT OF MONEY THROUGH
GOLD/DIAMOND, OIL PROCEEDS DURING HIS TENURE IN OFFICE.

THE TRUTH OF THIS CASE IS THAT MY CLIENT DESPITE THE PROBLEM HE IS GOING
THROUGH NOW, HE STILL HAS A LOT OF MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION. WHICH HE INTENDS
TO INVEST OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRY LIBERIA. WHAT MY CLIENT NEEDS FROM YOU NOW
IS A RELIABLE ACCOUNT WHERE HE CAN TRANSFER SOME MONEY BUT MIND YOU, ALL THE
MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION CAN NOT LEAVE AT ONCE BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BUILD
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN SOMEONE WHO WOULD NOT EXPOSE HIS PLAN TO REMIT AND
POSSIBLY INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY. SO HE HAS AGREED THAT I SHOULD MAKE
ARRANGEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF US$250 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN
IF HE FINDS YOU RELIABLE, HE WILL STILL TRANSFER THE REMAINING US$25O
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND YOU ARE FREE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF
COMPENSATION EVEN IF HE NTENDS TO INVEST THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE, DO NOT HESITATE TO INDICATE YOUR VIEW OF THIS REQUEST BY CONTACTING
ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL, SO THAT THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS CAN
BE MADE FOR THE MONEY TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION OF
MY CLIENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS REQUEST CAN BE KEPT A SECRET. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED. I HOPE MY CLIENT WOULD BE
HAPPY INVESTING WITH YOU.IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT
FORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.

THANKS,
BARRISTER MIKE USMAN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam