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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 ABACHA <represent_mariamz@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:44:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Thanks.


Good day,
Am Dr.Mrs.Mariam Abacha,the wife of Late General S.Abacha (former military, president of the Fed.Rep.of Nigeria).I am seeking your assistance in the transfer of the sum of $8 Million (Nine Million United States Dollars)to your country.It came from a contract deal between my late husband and a Russian firm in our country's multi million Dollar Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Plant.
They returned his share of $8M and I deposited it in our family's vault.Now the civillian president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has intensified his probe of my late husband,my family been under house arrest.
Pls do visit the websites.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2282366.stm.
I withdrew it from our security vault and deposited it in security company. I agree that 35 % will be for you as partner, provision of a foreign account and expenses and 65% my family.Law here stipulates that after Eight years,it will transfered into the Company treasury account as unclaimed fund.Trusting to hear from you immediately.
This letter is strictly personal and intimate of exceptional and very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many miscreants have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business persons to get attention and recognition.I trusted you to handle this project effectively without making my family regret it.Thanks.
Honest regards,
Dr.Mrs Mariam Abacha






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