419 scam: "mahmoud al bashiru"<albashirumahmoud@yahoo.com.hk> Please get back to me

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
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.
- malbashiru@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "mahmoud al bashiru" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mahmoudalbashiru@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:39:33 +0100
Subject: Please get back to me

Dear friend,

I am writing you with honesty over a project I want you to undertake on my behalf due to the deteriorating ill health (cancer ailment) which has totally weighed me down over years. When my late wife was alive we deposited a huge sum of money Hundreds of million in dollars (To be revealed to you later in confidence) which were derived from our vast estates and investment in crude oil market with a financial firm in europe.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family, and me I have decided to will this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from our effort to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially.

I took this decision because I do not have trust over my relatives and partners. I do not want my hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill perceived ventures. I want you to stand as the new beneficiary to the funds. My happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation. Please always be prayerful for me. Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein.

Yours sincerely

Mahmoud Al Bashiru For further correspondence -
malbashiru@aol.com
Tel:0044 709 298 1968

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam