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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348083963758 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: mariam abacha <marab_15@msn.com>
Reply-To: <abachmariam@live.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:49:26 +0000
Subject: My Dearest One.



My Dearest One.

I am Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Abacha, wife of the last Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on active duty.

I am contacting you in view of the fact we will be of great assistance to each other, likewise developing cordial business relationship.

I currently have within my reach the sum of thirty-five million United States dollars ($35,000,000.00) which I intended to use for investment purposes specifically in your country.

This money came as a result of a pay-back contract deal between my late husband and a Russian firm in our country’s Multi-Billion Dollar Ajaokuta Steel Plant.

The Russian partner returned my late husband’s share of US$35,000,000.00 USD after his death, and lodged it in my late husband Security Company, of which I am a Director.

Right now, the new civilian government has intensified their probe on my late husband’s financial resources and has frozen our accounts.

In view of these facts, I acted fast to withdraw the US$35,000,000.00 USD from the company’s vault and deposited it in a security safe.

No record whatsoever exists concerning the money traceable by the government because, there is no documentation showing that we received the money from the Russians.

Due to the current situation in the country concerning the Government’s attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible for me to make use of this money, thus upon your consent, I shall expect you to contact my son Prince Abbas Abacha with the above No.

urgently to enable us discuss in detail about this transaction.

Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund, I propose a commission of 20% (twenty percent) of the sum to you for the expected service and assistance.

Your response is highly needed so as to stop further contact.

All correspondence must be by Tel No: +234-808-396-3758. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extra ordinarily confidential as I waits to hear from you.

Best regards,
Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam