419 scam: "Mariam Abacha"<centralmarketpoint@gmail.com> Please Your Response Is Highlly Needed Today

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "honesty is the watchword" (the question is not whether they can trust you, but whether you have any reason to trust this person or anyone this person tells you to contact)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mariam Abacha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <billy@tmslive.info>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:24:15 +0100
Subject: Please Your Response Is Highlly Needed Today

Attn:Sir/madam

I hope this proposal will not come to you as a surprise as you do not know who I am please kindly treat as urgent and confidential. 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. My son was only recently released from detention due to health related reason, he was initially
detained for an offence he did not commit, he is still being arraigned before the federal high court of Nigeria till date. As a widow that is
so traumatizing for me,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 all the money we lodged with them.

In fact, the total sum discovered by the Government so far is in the tune of ($700) Million dollars. Moreover, 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. I will give you more information as to this regard as soon as 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 US$55.5million with one of the banks abroad whose name is withheld
for now until we open communication. I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your account for safekeeping. You and my son
Mustapha Abba Abacha alone know this arrangement, so my son will deal directly with you as security is up my 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
again if only you wish, but if it is impossible, just help me in diverting this fund into your account which will accrue you (20%) of
this fund. Please honesty is the watchword in this transaction. I will require your telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence
communication immediately and I will give you a more detailed picture of things. In case you do not 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.

Yours faithfully,

Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam