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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:
  • "mariam 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.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mrs_mariam205@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "mariam abacha" <mrs_mariam205@msn.com>
Reply-To: mariam_mrs205@yahoo.dk
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:26:26 +0000
Subject: Help My Family

MRS MARIAM ABACHA

SALBAC & KANURI COMPANY LTD

IBRAHIM TAHIR ROAD,

KANO STATE,NIGERIA.

mrs_mariam205@yahoo.co.uk

Beloved One,

I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigerian Head of state,general
Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on active service
for my Country. I am contacting you with the hope that you will be of great
assistance to my family, I currently have within my reach the sum of $21.5
million U.S dollars cash which I intend to use for investment purposes
outside Nigeria. This money came as a result of a payback contract deal
between my husband and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar
Ajaokuta steel plant. The Russian partners returned my husbands share being
the above sum after his death.

Presently, the new civilian Government has intensified their probe into my
husbands financial resources which has led to the freezing of all our
accounts,local and foreign, the revoking of all our business licences and
the arrest of my First son which has just been released. In view of this I
acted very fast to withdraw this money from one of our finance house in Kano
state before it was closed down, I then deposited the money in a security
company as our families valuable with the help of a very loyal lawyer of my
late husband and instruct the company to ship the consignment to their
branch in Europe. No record is known about this consignment fund by the
government because there is no documentation showing that we received such
funds. Due to the current situation in the country and government attitude
to my family, I cannot make use of this money within, thus I seek your help
in assisting us for the claiming of the consignment fund in Europe and
invest the fund in any lucrative business venture out the sub-African
region.

Bearing in mind that you may assist me, I have decided to offer you with 20%
of any investment return of the total sum. Your URGENT response is needed to
enable me further direct you on the way forward.

Yours sister,

Mrs. Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam