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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "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.
  • mariamabacha551@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Mariam Abacha <detailed200@helloworld.com>
Reply-To: "mariamabacha551@indiatimes.com" <mariamabacha551@indiatimes.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:28:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY



Dear Friend,
A very Good day to you.I am by name,Hajia
mariam Sani Abacha,the former first lady and also the wife of the
former late head of state of the federal republic of Nigeria,Late Gen.Sani
Abacha
whose sudden death came on the 8th of June,1998. Since his death,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.
My son Mohammed was under detention arraigned before the federal high
court of Nigeria for an offense he did not commit.Though he has been
released since on the 23rd of september,2002 based on certain
conditions,but he is not allowed to move around to any where.He has been restricted to his
own town only and also been placed under the government watch.

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 gave up their secrets
and disclosed our money confidently lodged in their custody.

In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is in the
tune of $700.Million dollars. And they are not relenting to make me poor
for life.
I got your contacts through my personal research,and out of desperation
decided to reach you through this medium.

Further info.Website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/564586.stm

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 so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will
not betray my confidence in you. My Husband deposited the sum of
US$350.000.00
million dollars with a security firm in abroad
in which I want you to clear at least US$15 million first so that you
will use part of the fund to clear the remaining fund and the security
deposit company have affiliate collecting centre all over the world
whose name is withheld for now until we open
communication.

I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your
account for safe keeping.

This arrangement is known to you and my son mohammed and our attorney
alone,our attorney will deal directly with you as security is up our
whole being.
I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly
atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund get into your account so
that I can start all over that if it is impossible,just help me keep this funds in your
account which will accrue you 20% of this fund .
Please honesty is the watch word in this transaction.I will require
your telephone numbers so that we can commence communication
immediately and I will give you a more detailed picture of things.
In case you dont accept please do not let me out to the security as I
am giving you this information in total trust and confidence I will
greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.

Sincerely yours,
Hajia Mariam Abacha
PLEASE REPLY TO: mariamabacha551@indiatimes.com

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of the intended recipient(s)
and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and
prohibited from unauthorized disclosure
under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this
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distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you
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please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam