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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: "MARIAM ABACHA" <m_aba21@msn.com>
Reply-To: mariamabacha1998@myway.com
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:21:33 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

My Dear Friend,

I am Dr. 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 our
Country. I am contacting you with the hope that you
will be of great assistance to me, I currently have
within my reach the sum of 24 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.

You can view these website for more about my family on
the news.

http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/27/swiss.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/909972.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_741000/741506.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/211324.stm


In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw this
money from one of our finance houses before it was
closed down with the assistance and help of a very
loyal official of my late husband who is a
lawyer(Chiedu Opia Esq.). I have deposited the money
in two trunk boxes and registered it as photographic
materials with a security company with his help. No
record is known about this 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
transferring this consignment containing the funds out
of the sub-African region.
Bearing in mind that you may assist me, l have decided
to part with 20% of the total sum.

Please kindly send your response of williness to
assist in getting the consignment containing the funds
to your custody to me by return mail.

Please include your personal telephone and fax numbers
for easy communication between us.


My best regards,
Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha

My Dear Friend,

I am Dr. 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 our
Country. I am contacting you with the hope that you
will be of great assistance to me, I currently have
within my reach the sum of 24 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.

You can view these website for more about my family on
the news.

http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/27/swiss.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/909972.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_741000/741506.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/211324.stm


In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw this
money from one of our finance houses before it was
closed down with the assistance and help of a very
loyal official of my late husband who is a
lawyer(Chiedu Opia Esq.). I have deposited the money
in two trunk boxes and registered it as photographic
materials with a security company with his help. No
record is known about this 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
transferring this consignment containing the funds out
of the sub-African region.
Bearing in mind that you may assist me, l have decided
to part with 20% of the total sum.

Please kindly send your response of williness to
assist in getting the consignment containing the funds
to your custody to me by return mail.

Please include your personal telephone and fax numbers
for easy communication between us.


My best regards,
Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha



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