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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 Fatima Abacha" <mrsfatimab15@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsfatima@excite.com
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 06:12:39 +0000
Subject: FROM: MRS. MUNIRAT FATIMA ABACHA

FROM: MRS. MUNIRAT FATIMA ABACHA
 
                                  URGENT  PROPOSAL  OF (US$18.6M)
 
Dear Respected One,
 
I do hope my letter will not embarrass you since I had no previous correspondence with you. This however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will.
 
I am Mrs. Munirat Fatima Abacha, the wife of Mohammed Abacha, son of the late Former Head of state of Federal Republic of Nigeria - General Sani Abacha.I am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other like wise developing a cordial relationship.
 
My husband along with his late father and top officials of their past administration has been accused of looting several Billion United States Dollars from the Nigeria Government. The current attitude of the present government towards my family has indeed made life quite unbearable and sad to us trying to leave us on empty handed.
 
Make reference to this BBC report: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2282366.stm) for us. Fortunately, Mohammed my Husband has Eighteen million and Six hundred thousand and United States Dollars (US$18.6 million) cash, which he intended to use for investment purposes in abroad for hotel and recreation reservation centre, while part will be diverted into charity and destitute homes to assist the life of the needy and helpless.This money is kept in a private security and finance company  in Ghana now.
 
Due to the instruction My husband laid down before he deposited the box, that he needed maximum security/safety of his consignment and no body nor government organization can trace this money or know where about of the box until he is  ready and prepare to claim it.
 
This deposit was coded under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not know the content of this trunk box that was deposited under their diplomatic coverage for safe keeping.
 
The current situation in the country concerning government’s vendettas towards my family, Right now my husband (Mohammed) is under arrest and is being detained in connection to the above and other activities of his late father Towards this effect, an embargo restricting my family members from traveling or carrying out financial transactions without their express permission is in force.
 
Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund to your country, we propose a commission of 15% (Fifteen Percent) of the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance. While extra 5% is mapped out for Miscellaneous   expenses.

I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily Confidential,
 
while I await your prompt response. 

Thanks and kind regards
MRS. MUNIRAT FATIMA ABACHA
 

 


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