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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Mariam Abacha <Danielfordx505@sify.com>
Reply-To: Danielford505@sify.com
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:38:20 +0400
Subject: TRULY, THAT'S IT.



Dear Friend,
I know that this mail will come to you as a suprise
but never mind, I am contacting you in utmost
confusion via the internet for an honest and capable
partner for this transaction while praying that God
will grant me all that my heart desires.
I believe that in recent times you must have heard
over the radio and t.v stations in AMERICA or even in
ASIA about my family regarding huge sums of money
stacked in foreign banks on different names for
business. I believe its a legacy we came to meet when
my late husband became the head of state of our
country.
Right now my good friend, It does not matter to me
whether you are small or big but your ability to help
me sort out things is mostly needed now .I do not
justify myself but it has happened and it is mostly
common with African leaders.
Following the sudden death of my husband General Sani
Abacha the late former head of state of Nigeria in
August 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 is under detention arraigned before the federal
high court of Nigeria for an offence he did not commit
and will be released on condition if we(Abacha
Family)will forget about the $700 million dollars my
late husband kept in Amsterdam,then my son will be
released which I just agreed on last week to effect
the release of my son MOHAMMED but they still held him
back in prison saying until they have recovered all
the money that my late husband put in other banks. You
can imagine that!.

As a widow that is so traumatizing ,I have lost
confidence with anybody within Africa.
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 banks as I said
earlier above abroad.
Some companies willingly give up their secrets and
disclosed our money confidently lodged with them and
many outrightly blackmailed us.
In fact the total sum recovered by the Government so
far is in the tune of $900. Million dollars and I can
boldly tell you that I dont even know about all this
money sincerely until the present government started
recovering them and forcing me to sign at gun point,
and they are not relenting to make me and my children
poor for life.
I will repose great confidence in you,You may not be
able to talk to me on phone because armed security
operatives are daily parading my place of"House
Arrest" in the Presidential Villa and the only thing I
have with me is this "Laptop" they agreed to give me
to keep me company in playing games not knowing the
"Laptop" has internet connection from where am sending
you this mail.
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 35.3 million dollars with a security firm
abroad whose name is witheld for now until we open
communication. It was enclosed in a box in the form of
a consignment without the knowledge of the security
firm.
I shall be grateful if you could receive this box as
my partner and deposit the funds into your account for
safe keeping, after which you shall have 30% of the
total sum for assisting me. 3% have been mapped out
for all expenses that will be incurred during the
transaction, including cost of opening accounts,
flight tickets, accommodations etc. While 7% should be
sent to the earthquake victims in the South East of
Asis as in fulfilment of my pledge to Allah to always
help the needy.
You must understand that this arrangement is known to
you and my sons Mustapha and Mohammed who is in prison
alone and so must be held in high confidentiality. It
will not take more than 7 working days to accomplish
depending on your level of commitment.
So my Representative by name Jack Princewill who is in
Dubai presently will deal directly with you as
security is up my whole being.
I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in
future in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon as
this fund gets secured in your account so that I can
start all over again but only after all this travails.
I will require more details from you, as well as a
scanned copy of your international passport to enable
me effect changes on the vital documents that will
position you as the beneficiary on my behalf. I will
give you a more detailed picture of things after
receiving your reply. Should in case you dont 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 could
accept my
proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.
Thank You Very Much
Mrs. Mariam Abacha

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