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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: "Mrs Mariam"< sj04618@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsabacha66@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:06:55 +0100
Subject: Attention: Friend

Attention: Friend

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
Dutch 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 Europe. 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 Europe 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 enquiries, get back to me so that I
will direct you to my family lawyer.


Best regards,
Mrs. Mariam Abacha

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