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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "maryam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MARYAM ABACHA" <maryam_abacha2001@msn.com>
Reply-To: maryam_abacha024@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 23:37:19 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY FRIEND

>From the Desk of her Excellency.

ATLAS OIL NIGERIA LIMITED
(A Subsidiary of Abacha real estates)
Dr.Mrs.Maryam Abacha.

Dear Sir,
This might seem very deplorable for a person that you do not know but
as the title implies I am Dr Mrs Maryam Abacha, wife of the late
General Sani Abacha.I am contacting you due to the present situation
as regards the special panel set up by the present democratic
administration in my country
(Nigeria) under the anti-corruption law passed mainly to recover what
they termed "Abacha's looted money".

This law is yet another smear campaign aimed mainly to frustrate,
humiliate, dismember and widen the scope of hatred to our family. A
personal vendetta by President Obasanjo who was jailed by my husband's
Government for plotting a coup d 'etat against his administration.

This highly calculated attempt by this administration cum Swiss
government through bi-lateral relationship has taken away from us over
US$1.4billion in Switzerland. The rampaging situation in our accounts
abroad has yielded to the barbaric pressure and just last month we
were squished out of another US$395m and all this funds can be
ascertained independently.

You may wish to confirm this from a leading newspaper in Nigeria (This
Day) from their website at
www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42764&SelectRegion=West_Africa
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42764&SelectRegion=West_Africa>
from the archives section in the March 10,2001,January 26,2002 and
FEBRUARY 21,2002 editions. This government is bent on destroying our
family. You may be aware that my son (Mohammed), heir apparent to the
family just got out of prison after 3 years of detention.Therefore,I
am soliciting for genuine partners that I can invest the family
fortune that is scattered all over the world. According to my
estimation in West Africa alone we still have about US$85m in cashina
SecurityCompany that we intend to invest abroad through your
assistance.

For the purpose of investment in areas of your interest, contact me as
a handsome reward of 20%of the total sum awaits you, subject to our
negotiation and agreement. You can contact me via my e-mail for
security reason for further details for now. In the event of you not
being interested in this proposal, endeavor to keep this highly
confidential!

Thanks and God bless!
Please indicate your telephone, fax and mobile numbers for easy
communication

Sincerely,

Dr Mrs Mariam

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam