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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Alh.Mrs. Mariam Abacha." <almanac@stevefolk.net>
Reply-To: alhmarabc@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2015 01:41:20 +0000
Subject: Business Relations



--
Attention:

I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha
former Nigerian Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a
result of Cardiac Arrest.

Since after my husband?s death, my family is under restriction of
movement and that notwithstanding, we are being molesting; policing
and our Bank Account both here and abroad are being frozen by the
Nigerian Civilian Government. Furthermore, my elder son is in
detention by the Nigerian Government for more interrogation about my
husband?s assets and some vital document.

Following the recent discovery of my husband?s Bank Account by the
Nigerians Government with Swiss Bank and which the huge sum of US$700
Million and Europe 450 million was logged. I therefore decided to
contact you in confidence that I was able to move out the sum of
US$62.5 Million Dollars, into a bank in Africa. I personally therefore
appeal to you seriously and religiously for your urgent assistant to
move this money into your country where I believe it will be safe and
be used for charity work since I cannot leave the country due to the
restriction movement imposed on the members of my family by the
Nigerian Government.

Once you indicate your interest to assist me in this transaction I
will give you my family Lawyer contact phone and fax numbers with the
Chambers address who will arrange with you for face to face meeting
outside Nigerian in order to liaise with you toward effective
completion of this transaction for charity work since my movement is
restricted and my telephone conversation is being monitored. However,
you will be required to claim/receive this fund on my behalf from the
Bank in Africa where this fund is deposited. Conclusively, we have
agreed to offer you 30% of the total sum, while 70% is to be held on
trust by you for charity work in your country or in any country of
your choice.

Please, reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and
sincerity. For further information and enquirers, get back to me so
that I will direct you to my family lawyer.

Best regards,
Mrs. Mariam Abacha.


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