419 scam: "MR. SHEHU MUSA" <shehumusa@email2me.net> STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND VERY URGENT

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- shehu.musa1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. SHEHU MUSA" <shehumusa@email2me.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: shehu.musa1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:57:00 +0000
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND VERY URGENT

MR. SHEHU MUSA
GHANA NATIONAL PERTROLEUM CORPERATION
TEMA,
ACCRA-GHANA
E-MAIL: shehu.musa1@hotmail.com

ATTN: SIR,

WE HAVE (US$15,000,000) FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY, WHICH WE GOT FROM OVER INFLATED CRUDE OIL CONTRACTS AWARDED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS IN THE GHANA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION. WE ARE SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE AND PERMISSION TO REMIT THIS AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. YOUR COMMISSION IS FORTY PERCENT (40%) OF THE TOTAL SUM.

PLEASE, NOTIFY ME OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO DO THIS BUSINESS URGENTLY.

THE MEN INVOLVED ARE MEN IN GOVERNMENT. MORE DETAILS WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY FAX OR EMAIL AS SOON AS WE HEAR FROM YOU. FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION IN THIS MATTER, MAY WE HAVE YOUR PRIVATE TELEFAX AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS INCLUDING YOUR PRIVATE HOME NUMBER AND YOUR PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS (IF ANY).

CONTACT ME URGENTLY THROUGH THESE E-MAIL

E-MAIL: shehu.musa1@hotmail.com

PLEASE, TREAT AS MOST CONFIDENTIAL.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

YOURS SINCERELY,

MR.SHEHU MUSA

NOTE: WE SEND YOU THIS LETTER, ALL ORIGINAL INFORMATION AND DETAILS WILL BE SENT TO YOU AS SOON AS WE GET YOUR REPLY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam