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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "for easy and confidential communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "mariam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mariam1919 Abacha" <mrs_mariam29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: m_abacha121@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:53:31 +0000
Subject: Good Day,

Dear Sir/Madam

I am Hajia Mariam Abacha, wife of late General Sani Abacha, ex-military head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who died on the 8th of june 1998 of heart problems. I contacted you because of my need to deal with persons whom my family and i have never had any previous personal relationship. to all sorts of intimidation and harassment with lots of negative reports emanating from the government and the press about my husband. The present government has also ensured that our bank accounts are frozen and all assets seized. It is in view of this that i seek your co-operation and assistance in the transfer of the sum of $30.875 million US Dollars (Thirty Million, Eight hundred and seven five United States Dolars) only being the very last of my Family fund in my possession and control. An earlier attempt in the physical movement of th! e ! sum of nine million U S Dollars($9,000,000.00) only, was futile as the money was confiscated and my international passport seized at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos in August 1998.

The Federal Government has seized all our properties and frozen all our accounts both local and international, but my only hope is the available $30.875 million U S Dollars Cash, which i carefully packaged and deposited with a Security Company asprecious stones. If you are willing to assist us to receive the money on our behalf, please reply to this immediately so that i can ask my family lawyer to fax you the relevant documents of the fund to enable youreach the Security Company for the eventual collection of the money. We will offer you 20% of this money for your efforts and assistance in receiving the money on our behalf.  Please, ensure you keep this proposal secret and confidential for obvious reasons and send your personal telephone and fax numbers for easy and confidential communication.

Reply Sincerely,

Hajia Mariam Abacha&children

 

 

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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam