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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "mohammed abacha" <mohamm201@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: aba000@myway.com
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:44:12 +0100
Subject: hello sir



Dear Friend,

Sorry to contact you in this manner. Difficulties encountered in efforts to
secure funds inherited from my fathers business reserve, necessitate this
search for someone to assist me.
My name is Mohammed Abacha, the heir of the abacha family, and son to Sani
Abacha, the Late Nigerian Head of State. I am presently undergoing trial in
Abuja though have just been recently granted bail under the condition that
my family refunds to the Federal Government some amount of money.To save the
family from total bankruptcy I have managed to ship through a courier
company, the sum of US$30, 000,000.00, kept by my late father. This money
may eventually become the only inherited property of our family since the
government and its loyalists are bent on making life difficult for us by
freezing all the family accounts and has auctioned most of our properties.

The money has since been deposited with a private finance and security firm
in Europe. I am willing to offer a percentage agreeable to you. All other
information required to secure the funds will be given to you pending a
positive response.
A quick reply with your full name and address including your telephone and
fax numbers will be highly appreciated.

Sincerely yours

Mohammed Abacha

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam