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One of the most enduring characters in the classic Nigerian advance fee fraud (419 scam) is Mariam Abacha (also spelled "Maryam Abacha"). This is no coincidence: her late husband, military dictator Sani Abacha (also spelled "Sanni Abacha") was probably the most corrupt ruler in Nigerian history.

Nevertheless, if you receive an email supposedly from this lady offering you 10-35% of some fortune in exchange for lending your bank account for having this money transferred into, it's still a scam. The real Mrs. Abacha doesn't need your help. If you are careless enough to get involved with these scammers you will then be asked to send cash to pay for various expenses which supposedly have come up, without ever seeing a cent of the promised fortune.

• I can't find the address in my email on your blacklist. Is it still a scam?
  
• Google search for one "Mariam Abacha" letter

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From: MARIAM ABACHA [mailto:stlady88@netscape.net] 
Sent: FRiday, 11 March 2005 01:00
To: emailaddress
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Attn:Sir/madam,
I hope this proposal will not come to you as a surprise as you do not
know who I am please kindly treat as urgent and confidential. Following
the sudden death of my husband General Sani Abacha the late former head
of stateofNigeria in June (1998), I have been thrown into a state of
utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian
administration, I have been subjected to physical and psychological
torture by the security agents in the country. My son was only recently
released from detention due to health related reason, he was initially
detained for an offence he did not commit, he is still being arraigned
before the federal high court of Nigeria till date. As a widow that is
so traumatizing for me,I have lost confidence with anybody within the
country. You must have heard over the media reports and the Internet on
the recovery of various huge sums of money deposited by my husband in
different security firms abroad, some companies willingly give up their
secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged there or many
outright blackmail. In fact, the total sumdiscovered by the Government
so far is in the tune of ($700) Million dollars. Moreover, they are not
relenting to make me poor for life. I got your contacts through my
personal research, and out of desperation decided to reach you through
this medium. I will give you more information as to this regard as soon
as you reply. I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to you
due to security network placed on my day to day affairs I cannot afford
to visit the embassy so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope
you will not betray my confidence in you. I have deposited the sum of
($15) million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is withheld
for now until we open communication. I shall be grateful if you could
receive this fund into your account for safekeeping. You and my son
Mustapha Abba Abacha alone know this arrangement, so my son will deal
directly with you as security is up my whole being. I am seriously
considering to settle down abroad in a friendly atmosphere like yours as
soon as this fund get into your account so that I can start all over
again if only you wish, but if it is impossible, just help me in
diverting this fund into your account which will accrue you (20%) of
this fund. Please honesty is the watchword in this transaction. I will
require your telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence
communication immediately and I will give you a more detailed picture of
things. In case you do not accept, please do not let me out to the
security as I am giving you this information in total trust and
confidence .I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good
faith. Please expedite action. you can indicate so by your response to
my private Email:stlady88@netscape.net 

Yours faithfully,

mariam abacha 

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