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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • drmariam1952@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: drhajiamaryam halima <doctorhalimamaryan@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <drmariam1952@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:59:02 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME.



Goodday Concern friend,Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics, although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you due to my present predicament. I am mariam abacha,wife to the late millitary head of state of Nigeria.i got your information from a well certified body and prayed over and over for divine guidance before i decided to write you these mail. Following the sudden death of my husband General Sani Abacha the late former head of state of Nigeria in June 1998, I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration, I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture by the security agents in the country. As a widow that is so traumatized,I have lost confidence with anybody 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 security firms abroad, some companies willingly give up their secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged there and many outrightly blackmail us.In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is in the tune of $70. Million dollars. And they are not relenting to make me poor for life.You may be surprise how I got to know but I will tell you when you reply. I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to you. Due to security network placed on my day to day affairs I cannot afford to visit the embassy or operate my bank account hence I decided to contact you and I hope you will not betray my confidence in you.I have deposited the sum of U.S 40.3 million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is witheld for now until we open communication. I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your account for safe keeping and investment under your care as my business associate.This arrangement is known to you alone, since the security is up my whole being.Please honesty is the watch word in this arrangement . 1. Full names 2. Contact address 3. Telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence communication immediately.In case you dont accept please dont let me out to the security.I will greatly appreciate if you accept my working me.Please expedite action. please reach me directly on my email drmariam1952@yahoo.fr Sincerely yours Dr.Mrs. Mariam Abacha

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam