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February 19, 2009

When President Obama announced his mortgage rescue plan yesterday, he urged American consumers to start living within their means. That generally means lowered expectations. Seemingly in response to that, today's 419 scammer has lowered the order of magnitude of how much free money is promised to come your way if you just contact Barrister George Emmanuel at his hotmail or gmail account. Instead of lofty tens of millions of dollars, the "within your means" payout is $600,000:

DEAR FRIEND
CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED UNDER THE CO-OPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM PARAGUAY. PRESENTLY I'M IN PARAGUAY BUT BY NEXT WEEK I WILL BE IN CHINA FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM.
MEANWHILE,I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME HOW.
NOW CONTACT MY LAWYER, HIS NAME IS GEORGE EMMANUEL ON HIS E-MAIL ADDRESSS: [removed]@hotmail.com ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF $600.000.00 WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION FOR ALL THE PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. I APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH. SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCH WITH MY LAWYER AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU.
PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THE JOY AFTER ALL THE SUFFERNESS AT THAT TIME. IN THE MOMENT, I AM VERY BUSY HERE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS WHICH ME AND THE NEW PARTNER ARE HAVING AT HAND.
FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT I HAD FORWARDED INSTRUCTION TO THE LAWYER ON YOUR BEHALF TO SEND YOU THE MONEY AS SOON AS YOU REQUEST FOR IT.
SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH GEORGE EMMANUEL HE WILL SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY,BEAR IN MIND THAT THE $600,000.00 WAS IN CONFIRMABLE BANK DRAFT
REGARDS,
MR KELLY TROTTER.
GEORGE EMMANUEL EMAIL; [removed]@hotmail.com or [removed]@gmail.com

With this payout being much lower than in the typical 419 tall tale, it means that our scammer has also set his sights lower. He can't expect to suck more than a low five-figure sum out of even the most gullible. In truth, I'd bet he'd be thrilled to get even just a couple grand out of anybody. Anybody? Bueller?