419 scam: "Akbar Rabbiu"<akbarrabbiuiii@gmail.com> Dear Friend

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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)
- ",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)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Akbar Rabbiu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akbarrabbiu@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:50:53 +1100
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

Greetings in the name of God… Please let my plea not sound strange to you dearest one. Though this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. However, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such, as you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me because, I know everyone will die someday.

My name is Mr. Akbar Rabbiu a merchant in Tema. 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 doctor. I have not 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 have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this last good deed I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in Asia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close all my accounts and sell off all my properties and distribute the money to charity organizations and keep only a certain % to themselves but they refused and with aid of my lawyer they kept the money to themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is a cash deposit of $8,000,000 that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for your time.
God be with you.

Mr. Akbar Rabbiu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam