419 scam: "Abdul Hamid Mohammed Saeed"<adb3@psu.edu> I Need You To Help 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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <helpcharity@shqiptar.eu>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:11:49 +0100
Subject: I Need You To Help Me

Hello Friend,

My name is Abdul Hamid Mohammed Saeed a merchant in Dubai, in theU.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.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
Thirty two million, five hundred thousand US dollars (US$32.5M) in
Security Deposit account Abroad.

I will want you to Act as my Beneficiary who will help me contact the
bank on my behalf to discuss the terms and condition of getting this
deposit out from thier custody and also helping me to dispatch it to the
charity organisations

Kindly get back to me with trust and sincerity that you will help me on
this regards.Here is my personal mail box:
helpcharity@shqiptar.eu

Reply to this email with your full names,contact address,tel number
and fax to enable me ask my doctors lawyer to arrange for you a power
of attorney that will give you full legal backing as my beneficiary

I have set aside 30% for you and for your time.

God be with you.

Abdul Hamid Mohammed Saeed

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam