419 scam: "Mrs. Lubna Qassem"<Qassem5050@hotmail.com> RESPOND URGENTLY

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin 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.
- qassem5050@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Lubna Qassem" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Qassem5051@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 17:23:14 -0700
Subject: RESPOND URGENTLY

FROM: Mrs. Lubna Qassem.
EMAIL: Qassem5050@hotmail.com

Hello,

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will not betray me. I am Mrs. Lubna Qassem, a Bank officer here in U.A.E. One Mr. Cliff Adams, a citizen of your country and Crude Oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 108 calendar months, valued at US$35,500,000.00 (Thirty Five Million Five Hundred United State Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of January 2013. Sadly Cliff was among the death victims in the May 27 2006 Earthquake disaster in Java, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was in Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his untimely end. My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his Account Officer. Cliff did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, he was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that Cliff should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the co
ntract.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know that Cliff is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is why I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you are a foreigner and my bank head quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, equal sharing. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information highly confidential. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response.

Have a nice day, Anticipating your communication.

Regards,

Mrs. Lubna Qassem
Group Company Secretary

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam