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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mrm_abacha@mixmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Mrs.Mairam Abacha" <lawpanel44@lawpanel44.com>
Reply-To: mrm_abacha@mixmail.com
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 00:39:56 +0000
Subject: Attention:My Dear Friend.

My Dear Friend,
I am Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigerian Head of state,
General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on active
service for our Country. I am contacting you with the hope that you will be
of great assistance to me, I currently have within my reach the sum of 24
million U.S dollars cash which I intend to use for investment purposes
outside Nigeria.
This money came as a result of a payback contract deal between my husband
and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel
plant. The Russian partners returned my husbands share being the above sum
after his death.

Presently, the new civilian Government has intensified their probe into my
husbands financial resources which has led to the freezing of all our
accounts, local and foreign, the revoking of all our business licences and
the arrest of my First son. In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw
this money from one of our finance houses before it was closed down. I have
deposited the money in a security company with the help of very loyal
officials of my late husband. No record is known about this fund by the
government because there is no documentation showing that we received such
funds.

Due to the current situation in the country and government attitude to my
family, I cannot make use of this money within, thus I seek your help in
transferring this funds out of the sub-African region. Bearing in mind that
you may assist me, l have decided to part with 20% of the total sum. Please
kindly reply through this email address {mrm_abacha@mixmail.com} and include
your personal telephone and fax numbers. Your URGENT response is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam