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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • obisoneze01@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mariam Abacha" <mariamabacha06@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 06:37:39 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MY ATTORNEY


Hello

I am Mrs Mariam Abacha the wife of late head of state Federal Republic of
Nigeria I got your e-mail from search engine. Following the sudden death of
my husband General Sani Abacha theâ€"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 sychological torture by the security
agents in the country. As a widow that is so traumatized,I have lost
confidence with anybody wihin the country. You must have heard over the
media reports and the internet on the recovery of various huge sums ofmoney
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 $700.Million
dollars. And they are not relenting! to make me poorfor 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
so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will not betray my
confidence in you.I have deposited the sum of U.S 45 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.This arrangement is known to you and my Attorney
alone, so my Attorney will deal directly with you as security is up my whole
being.The name of my Attorney is Barrister Obison Eze . Please honesty is
the watch word in this transaction.

I will like you to provide me immediately the following information to
my attorney Barr Obison eze his email address is obisoneze01@yahoo.fr

1) Full names
(2) Contact address
(3) Telephone and fax numbers
(4) Location

so that we can co! mmence communication immediately.In case you don‘t
accept please don‘t let me out to the security.I will greatly
appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.Please expedite action.

Sincerely yours
Mrs Mariam Abacha

You can check the follwing web-sites about my husband and son and about
the latest developement about my family.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_741000/741506.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/211324.stm

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam