419 scam: MICHAEL OWUSU <michaelowusu2@yahoo.com.hk> (no subject)

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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)
- "demurrage " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: MICHAEL OWUSU <michaelowusu2@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: michaelowusu20008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:47:06 +0100
Subject:

Dear Friend

I Need Your Help Please.

(Keep This Mail Top Secret)

Please carefully read and understand my reason of contacting you through this email. I'm contacting you now,and I believed that you are reliable, trustworthy and honest person to introduce this transfer Investment project with. My name is DR.MICHAEL OWUSU.I am the Chief Security Officer in the Security Company, Accra-Ghana, On November 2000, One Mr. Hussein Ahmed Omar from Iraq National, a Gold dealer. who runs gold business in my country Ghana to Asia, whom I was accounting officer made a numbered time Deposit 1 Trunk Box, valued at USD$9.2Millon Dollars ( NineMillion Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for twelve calendar months in our company.

I am the Chief Security Officer in the Security Company, Accra-Ghana, I am a Ghanaian. I am glad to hear you are from such good country thanks.

Upon Maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered that Mr. Hussein Ahmed Omar from Iraq, with his wife and two children / parents died with his family in a bomb blast in Iraq. My investigation proved that he died with his supposed next- of- kins in the bomb blast. The Trunk box total sum, USD$9.200,000.00 is still in our Company and the demurrage is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

Consequently, I shall present you to stand in as the next- of- kin to the late Mr. Hussein Ahmed Omar. Consequently, upon acceptance of this proposal, I will give you detailed information on how this deal would be carried out. The money will be shared in the ratio: (60%) for me, (35%) for you, the remaining (5%) will be kept to recover any expenses made during the process of the transfer into your account which include both our telephone bills.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as I will use my position as the Chief Security of OPERATIONS' Officer to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. I want you to handle everything for me.

I have the trust in you and I know that you will not disappoint me; I don't need to know you for many years to trust you. If you have an idea of what should be done to being the money out of Africa, please tell me I need you𠆫e seriously and I have the impression that you are a nice gentle person. Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. On your reply include your private full contact details information as bellow.

1. Your Age
2. Your Occupation
3. Your full complete names.
4. Your direct mobile telephone / fax number.
5. Your fiscal current address or Office Address were the Trunk Box will be delivered to you.
6. A copy of your international passport or your driving license for identification.

I will be waiting for your urgent response for more details.

Best regards,
Dr.Michael Owusu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam