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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: "ladey abacha" <lady_abacha@msn.com>
Reply-To: mariamneedfavour@compaqnet.fr
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 11:37:08 +0000
Subject: PLEASE HELP A WIDOW AND FAMILY


FROM HER EXCELLENCY:- HAJIA MARYAM ABACHA.

Attn:President/CEO,





I would like to firstly send to you the best wishes of good health.With utmost confidence I am soliciting your immediate assistance or co-operation as to enable my family round up the remains of our life.

Following the sudden death of my husband, Late General Sanni Abacha,the former head of state of the federal republic of Nigeria in June 1998, I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration. Security agents in Nigeria have subjected me to physical and psychological tortures. One of my sons is still under detention as well as arraigned before a Federal High Court of Nigeria for an offence he did not commit.

As a widow, that is so traumatized, I have lost hope and confidence in anybody within the country. You must have heard over the media and the Internet on the recovery of various huge sums of money deposited by my late husband in different security firms abroad. Some willingly gave up their secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged with them and many out-rightly declined lodgment. In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is to the tune of $700 million dollars.

And the government has not relented in its efforts to completely bring my children and I back to square one. This is why I deemed it necessary to act fast by contacting anybody abroad for assistance. Furthermore, due to the security network placed on my daily activities I cannot afford to visit any embassy for a possible solution, hence I have decided to contact you and I do hope you will be the person God is going to use to rescue my family and.

I have deposited the sum of $35 million dollars in a security firm abroad as whose name is withheld for now for security reasons until we fully
commence communication. I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund on my behalf for safekeeping.

Adequate arrangement has been made for receiving the fund. It is totally risk free. This arrangement is known to you, my brother (who is contacting you and I only. This means that my brother will deal directly
with you as surveillance is on me.

You are entitled to 30% of the total sum. I hope to invest a proportion of the balance in your country. Please forward your private Telephone and Fax numbers so that we can fully commence communication immediately.

I will quite appreciate, if you accept my proposal in good faith. I look forward to receiving your urgent reply to my plea. Reply through my
e-mail.



Yours truly,
Hajia Mariam Abacha.

N.B: IF IN DOUBT PLEASE VISIT THE BELOW LINKS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/613565.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/613565.stm
http://www.search.eb.com/Blackhistory/article.do?nKeyValue=389478">http://www.search.eb.com/Blackhistory/article.do?nKeyValue=389478
http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/launder/regions/2002/0523abacha.htm">http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/launder/regions/2002/0523abacha.htm
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/nov2000/nige-n10_prn.shtml">http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/nov2000/nige-n10_prn.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/366259.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/366259.stm
http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/2/hi/africa/4271245.stm">http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/2/hi/africa/4271245.stml
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/bank/hba79943.000/hba79943_0.HTM">http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/bank/hba79943.000/hba79943_0.HTM

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