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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "MARIAM" <martin2@galmail.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 18:32:16 -0700
Subject: good day


DEAR SIR/Madam.
IT IS WITH HEART FULL OF HOPE THAT I WRITE TO SEEK YOUR HELP IN THE CONTEXT BELOW.I AM MRS, MARIAM ABACHA (WIDOW) THE WIFE OF FORMER HEAD OFSTATE OF NIGERIA, GENERAL SANI ABACHA WHO'S SUDDEN DEATH OCCURRED ON THE 8TH OF JUNE,1998. AS A RESULT OF CARDIAC ARREST WHILE STILL IN GOVERNMENT.

I GOT YOUR EMAIL CONTACT FROM ONE OF THE MY FAMILY FRIEND A DIRECTOR, WITH THE NIGERIA CHEMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUTYOUR CAPACITY AND GOODWILL TO ASSIST ME IN RECEIVING INTO YOUR PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT (FOR SAFETY) THE SUM OF US$32,800,000.00 (THIRTY TWO MILLION, EIGTH HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLAS)
WILLED AND DEPOSITED IN MY LATE HUSBAND'S FAVOUR THIS MONEY IS CURRENTLY DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN TWO TRUNK BOXES AS BELONGINGS AWAITING COLLECTION.
AS IT IS LEGALLY REQUIRED, THE ADMINISTRATION OF MY LATE HUSBAND'S PROPERTIES IS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE FAMILY'S LAWYER NAMED (BARRISTER HOSSANA LUYA & ASSOCIATES). SINCE THE DEMISE OF MY HUSBAND, THE PRESENT REGIME (GOVERNMENT) HAS BEEN PROBING MY LATE HUSBAND'S WEALTH. PRESENTLY, SOME CASH ASSETS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA HAVE BEEN FROZEN AND SEIZED.

FORTUNATELY, OUR FAMILY LAWYER HAD SECRETLY PROTECTED THE PERSONAL WILL OF MY LATE HUSBAND FROM THE NOTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT MEANWHILE, I AND EVERY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY ARE BEING MONITORED AND ALSO DENIAD ACCESS TO
FINANCIAL DEALING WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA.

HENCE, I WAS ADVICE BY MY PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYE THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEUTRAL INDIVIDUAL OUTSIDE NIGERIA AND WITH THE LEGAL BACKING OF MY FAMILY LAWYER TO POSE AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE WILLED MONEY AND THEREFORE CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR BENEFIT OF US ALL. THE GOVERNMENT HAD EARLIER PLACED FOREIGN EMBARGO ON ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, SEIZED ALL KNOWN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTFITS OF OUR BUSINESS EMPIRE.THE SITUATION HAS BEEN SO TERRIBLE THAT WE ARE VIRTUALLY LIVING ON THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR WELL WISHERS
.
IN VIEW OF THIS PLIGHT THEREFORE, I EXPECT YOU TO BE TRUST WORTHY AND KIND ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO MY MAIL TO SAVE MY FAMILY AND I FROM A HOPELESS FUTURE. I HEREBY AGREE TO CONPENSATE YOUR SINCERE AND CANDID EFFORT IN THIS REGARD WITH 20% OF THE FUND WHEN FINALLY RECEIVED IN YOUR PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT. MY LAWYER WILL MAKE EVERY ARRENGMENTS TO EFFECT COMPLETE DISLODGMENT OF THIS MONEY WITHIN A WEEK OF THE RECEIPT OF YOUR RESPONSE THROUGH
E-MAIL.PLEASE, ALL CONTACT ON PHONE MUST BE THROUGH OUR FAMILY LAWYER-OSAREMOTI LUYA & ASSOCIATES OR MY ERSONAL ASSISTANCE WHILE YOU COMMUNICATE WITH ME ON EMAIL AS I AND MY FAMILY MEMBER IS BEEN HEAVELY MONITORED BY THE OVERNMENT.

I WILL ALSO FORWARD THE EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER OF BARRISTER SMITH OSAREMOTI LUYA & ASSOCIATES OR THAT OF MY ASSISTANCE TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECIEVE
YOUR RESPONSE. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUICK RESPONSE.
MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU. BEST WISHES,
MRS. MARIAM ABACHA (WIDOW).


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