419 scam: MR IDRISSA MAHDI <idrissamahdi8@gmail.com> ASSALAMU'ALEKUM!

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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:
- "million 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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: MR IDRISSA MAHDI <idrissamahdi8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mridrissa_mahdi@9.cn
Date: Sun, 29 May 2011 17:37:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ASSALAMU'ALEKUM!

PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

I am Mr. Idrissa Mahdi Assistant Manager in banking institution, For your kind attention, I will be very glad if you do assist me to relocate the sum of (US$15 Million Dollars) to your personal bank account for the benefit of both of us.

This is a genuine business transaction, only I cannot operate it alone without using a Foreigner as required in my bank law, therefore I am contacting you to stand before my bank as the beneficiary next of kin of this fund, that is my reason of contacting you in this manner to assist me actualize this better opportunity.

And also to share the benefit together with me,you will be entitled to have 40% of this fund as a foreignpartner, since you will provide a bank account where this money will be transferred to, while 60% will be for me, by indicating your interest on assurance of trust, I will send to you a draft text of application form to apply for the money and more details, and how this business will be executed. I don't want anyone here in the bank to know my involvement during the process.

Please keep this proposal as a top secret between the both of us.

Waiting for your urgent and prompt response.

Regards,
Mr. Idrissa Mahdi.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam