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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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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:
  • "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 - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • barrmikeusman1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BRR MIKE USMAN <barrmikeusman29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrmikeusman1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:35:02 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY



FROM THE DESK OF BRR MIKE USMAN.PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.DEAR MADAM / SIRMY NAME IS BRR MIKE USMAN, I AM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND IHAVE A CLIENT WHO IS INTERESTED IN INVESTING SOME GOOD MONEY IN YOURCOMPANY.
MY CLIENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT PERSON WHO HAS MANDATED ME TO CONTACT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY FOR A VERY MPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION.MY CLIENT IS BY NAME MR. CHARLES TAYLOY 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 OUR 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$450 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN IF HE FINDS YOU RELIABLE, HE WILL STILL TRANSFER THE REMAINING US$10O MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARSAND 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 ISACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT FORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.ENDEAVOUR TO UPDATE ME WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW:barrmikeusman1@gmail.com THANKS,BRR MIKE USMAN
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam