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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: mrsmariam abacha <mrsmariam48@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 07:05:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS HELP


FROM: MARIAM H.ABACHA
6 Gidado Idris Road
Kano State Nigeria.
Dear Sir/Madam,
First, let me apologise for the surprise or embarrassment this mail may
cause you.I beg for your sincere understanding With due regards, I take
the liberty to contact you for this urgent business transaction which
will be of immense benefit to all parties concerned.
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 General Sani Abacha, who was the former head of state of
Nigeria in June 8,1998.I have been thrown into a state of utter
confusion, frustration and hopelessness by this present civilian
administration.
I have been subjected to physical and mental torture by the security
agents or rather his followers in my country.And believe me, I and my
children have not done anythin wrong, we were never part of my late
husband regime. The new president has succeeded in turning the whole
country against us.
This is just because, this present day President of Nigeria planned a
coup against my husband in 1995 and was charged by the military headed
by my late husband for treasonable offence.He was tried,sentenced and
jailed by my late husband's government before my late husband died . It
is rumored that my husband was secretly murdered by these same
people,"May his soul rest inperfect peace".
This same man (Rtd.General Olusegun Obasanjo) was released and elected
as the President of this country in 1999 and since then he has openly
vowed that,he will frustrate my family and wipe out our entire family
and he is really doing that to us now.My son was framed up
and is still under detention,arraigned before the federal Supreme court
of Nigeria holding in Abuja for an offence he did not commit.
As a widow that is so traumatized,I have lost confidence with everybody
within the country. 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 Trustee/Deposit firms abroad, some companies
willingly give us their secrets and disclosed our money confidently
lodged there on outright blackmail.
Some companies willingly give up their secrets and disclosed our money
which we confidentially lodged there on outright blackmail.In fact
US$620 million dollars were confiscated by Luxembourg
authoritiesthe,550 million dollars in Swiss bank accounts linked
to my husband was frozen by the Swiss authorities since 1999,
Fifteen(15)British banks were actually censured in March 2001 for lax controls
on my late Husband's Bank Accounts.
I would refer you to the website below for more information:-
< http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/27/swiss.html>
< http://www.nigeriafirst.org/printer_378.shtml>
< http://www.jubilee2000uk.org/worldnews/africa/court_uk_ahead_abacha_loot.htm>
This present government have turned the people against my entire family
and they are really out to purnish us and make my family poor for
life.I can not really explain the measure of the kind of suffering my family
is going through right now.
Come to think of it, I am a woman and I was not in any way part of my
husband's military regime. My late husband may have stepped on toes
during his tenure, he was a difficult soldier and I never had any control
over him or his government. So I do not see why I and his poor children
should be going through all these.
I have been looking for help and due to my previous experience I am
afraid that if I contact any other embassy I might be exposed.Please do
not betray me.Some time ago, I deposited the sum of [US$64.7 million
U.S. dollars]for my late husband in a security firm,whose name I cannot
disclose now until I gain your trust and I can open communication with
you.The money was deposited there in aform which I would explain later.
I engaged the assistance of an Italian Business man by name Mr.Paulo
Luigi of Milano Construction S.P.A who assisted to finance and receive
the release of the US$50 Million to him for Safe Keeping.I was suprised
to find out Later that Mr.Paulo Luigi has frudulently deceived me and
my family.He made away with my money and all efforts to trace him proved
abortive.
I will be very grateful if you could receive the amount of
US$8.5Million
for safe keeping.I never really intended to touch this money which is
very safe and secure in the vault of this security firm. But due to our
present situation I do not have any other option.
The problem is that I cannot lay my hands on this money due to the fact
that all our international passports belonging to any member of my
family has been seized by this government, pending when they finish
investigation into my late husbands assets.This arrangement is only known to
you, myself, my lawyer and my Son who was discharged
by a Supreme court in Abuja of all charges but his still being held in
prision by the present Nigerian Government.
See the website below for more information about the case:-
< http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/07/12/index.html>
< http://www.odiousdebts.org/odiousdebts/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=4568>
My request is anchored on our strong desire to establish a lasting
relationship with you and hence solicit your partnership to receive
funds into your safe custody.
I and my family have agreed to offer the following percentages:-
1.)10% has set aside for all the expenses you might incur during the
process of securing this fund. Example: TELEPHONE/FAX BILLS and any
other miscellaneous expenses.
2.) 20% of the total is for you upon successful clearance of this funds
from the Trustee/Deposit company.
3.) 70% will be for me and my family.All i requires is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this business successful.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
which will protect you from any breach of the law.
Do not hesitate to include the following in your reply to me:-
1. Your full name & Contact Address
2. Your Private Phone & Fax Numbers.
All I am bothered about is how this money could be kept safely or
invested and most importantly use some of it to save my son's life.If
you are not willing to help me, please do not expose me, just assume we
never discussed this matter.
I am looking forward in doing this transaction with you and solicit
your absolute confidentiality in this transaction.
I will be most grateful and would show my appreciation if you can help
to restore the life and hope in my family again.
Yours Sincerely,
Hajia (Mrs) Mariam Abacha



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