419 scam: "Mustapha Abdullah" <mustaphabdullah@sify.com> LETTER TO YOU:READ AND GET BACK

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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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mustapha Abdullah" <mustaphabdullah@sify.com>
Reply-To: <mustaphabdullah@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:07:11 +0800
Subject: LETTER TO YOU:READ AND GET BACK

MUSTAPHA ABDULLAH & ASSOCIATES
SOLICITOR AND ADVOCATES
NO. 101, JALAN PUDU RAYA,
TAMAN DESA RAYA
MALAYSIA
+60102704481

I am Mustapha Abdullah,Attorney at law. A deceased client of mine that shares the same last name as yours died as a result of a heart-related condition in March 12th 2007. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December2004 in Sumatra Indonesia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake.

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the fund left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at nineteen million dollars is (US$19 million dollars) lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin,or the account will be confiscated.My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law.
If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential.I look forward to your quick reply.

Best Regards,
Barrister Mustapha Abdullah,
Attorney at Law

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam