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

Fraud email example:

From: Mariam Abacha <mariam_abach003@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:34:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLS HELP ME FOR GOD SAKE


Dear Love,

I am Mrs Mariam Abacha, wife of Nigeria former military head of state, General Sanni Abacha who died in August, 1998. Since after his death, it has not been easy with me and my children by the presure from the present government.

Some of the money he left behind which should have been used for the upkeeping of our children and myself had been been confiscated by the government and to make matters worst, our movement is restricted as some of our travelling document have been sized just to purnish us for the resentment they had for my husband while he was in power as they regarded him a dictator. Well, as a wife and as a mother, i did my best to making sure that he earned the admiration and acceptance of people but little did i know that i would be thrown to widowhood and facing what am facing today.

I am writing soliciting your help to invite you to go to london UK and remove on our behalf [$25,000,000] which was deposited there in security by my late husband, all the relevant documents for the claiming of the luggage from the security house in London are intact with me, which i shall pass across to you in trust through a confidential contact address in London as soon as we hear from you. I and my elderly son (Ahmed) are ready to consider the percentage you may want to collect for assisting us. Am contacting you a foreigner becos i am afraid of being bethrayed if i should confide with anyone within my country as they might turned to disclose the plan to the enemies of my husband even the present government thereby bringing doom to my entire family once again. I hope and i pray that you find me tranparent enough in my plea for help.

pls i request your sincere and urgent reply and pls keep it confidential for my sake as this is the only hope for our sustainance.


Sincerely yours

Mrs Mariam Abacha



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