419 scam: Usman <issoufusman1@sify.com> contact my secretary ok

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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.
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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- ahmedabdul1000@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Usman <issoufusman1@sify.com>
Reply-To: issoufusman2@sify.com
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:11:43 -0800 (PST)
Subject: contact my secretary ok

Dear Friend,

How are you doing all this while! Hope fine? I want to inform you that I left a cheque of $3,000.000.00 for you through a secretary of mine, if I may ask, have he contacted you? Listen,I have final succeeded in our transaction, I contacted another new person from london whom came on your behalf as to assist me get this fund from the bank and with his fully support we both try as much as we could as to make this transaction happen.

I am now in london doing my personal things with this friend of mine ,we both are into one investment here in london but I did not left you behind since we both started this transaction from the beginning ,we decided to keep the sum of $3,000.000.00 for you through a cheque bearing your name and instructed by personal secretary to release it to you once he get accross to you. Please kindly notify me if he have contacted you concerning to this cheque,if not you should go ahead and contact him and let him know that you are directed to contact by Mr.Issouf Usman. and arrange with him on how the cheque will be sent to you urgently.

Thanks

Mr Issouf Usman

Now contact my secretary, his name is Ahmed Abdul and his Email Address

(ahmedabdul1000@gmail.com) ask him to send you the

total $3,000.000.00 which i kept for your compensation for all the

past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.

.

Notify me once you receive the cheque from him ok.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam