419 scam: "Mr. Muhammed Azeem" <info@mail.com> Dear Friend***Can I Trust You?

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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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
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.
- muhammedazeem_merchant@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Muhammed Azeem" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: muhammedazeem_merchant@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:47:28 +0700
Subject: Dear Friend***Can I Trust You?

Dear Friend***Can I Trust You?

My name is Muhammed Azeem a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been
diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical
treatment and right now i have only about a few months to live. According
to medical experts, i have not particularly lived my life so well as i
never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though i
am very rich, i was never generous, I was always hostile to people and
only focused on my business as that was the only thing i cared for. But
now i regret all this as i now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, i want you to act
as my Beneficiary who will help me contact the security finance company on
my behalf to discuss the terms and condition of getting my cash
consignment i deposit with them out from their custody and also helping me
to dispatch it to the charity organizations. I have $26,000,000 (twenty
six million dollars) in their possession. I have also decided that if you
help me, you will be entitled to 30% of the money. Kindly get back to me
with trust and sincerity that you will help me on this regards. Here is my
personal email box: muhammedazeem_merchant@yahoo.co.jp

God be with you.
My Dearest Brother
Mr Muhammed Azeem

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam