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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • barr_mikeusman@box.az

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Mike Usman" <mikeusmanesq@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barr_mikeusman@box.az
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 01:45:24 -1000
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.

PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTREASTED KINDLY REPLYME AT MY PRIVATE EMAIL
ADDRESS:barr_mikeusman@box.az

THANKS,

BARRISTER MIKE USMAN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam