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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: "MARIAM ABACHA" <abachafamily@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2005 04:00:02 +0000
Subject: EMAIL

RE: KINDLY ASSIST MY FAMILY.

I am Hajia Mariam Abacha the wife of former Nigeria Military ruler General
Sani Abacha who died on june 8,1998 as a result of Cardiac arrest.I got your
contact from an inquiry i made ,where a reliable and dependable
recommendation of your good self was introduced to me. Based on this, I
write you to assist me in this transaction.Following the house arrest order
clamped on me, the detention and arrest of my first son Mohammed, the
freezing of all our off shore account and restriction from travelling abroad
by the present Government. It is against this backdrop that we decided to
search for a trustworthy person abroad who can help us receive and manage
these funds until we are free to travel out of the country. I seek for your
assistance as discussed with my son and lawyer in this transaction.

This money came as a result of a contract deal between my late husband and a
Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta steel plant.
The Russian partners returned my late husband's share of 15,000.000.00 USD
during the burial arrangments of my late husband and lodged it in one of my
father's bank account.After the burial of my late husband i sensed out that
the government wants to probe into my late husband's accounts and financial
resources, I quickly withdraw the 15,000.000.00 USD from my husband's bank
account. We have a total sum of which we will like to use and buy an Estate
in your country where we will live when we are freed by our Government and
to invest offshore to uplift our livelihood.

This said amount was secretly SEALED IN a METAL TRUNK BOXES and deposited
with a diplomatic security company as FAMILY VALUABLES AND PERSONAL
ITEMS.This was done in order to beat security even customs.This money was
found in my husband's secret vault and deposited with a security company in
amsterdam and with the help of a diplomatic security company will be moved
out of Nigeria, inorder to secure the funds as our Government searchlight is
still on. Please if you can assist us claim this consignment and assist us
in the area of investment, kindly contact me on my e-mail above or
alternatively you can send your response to my private email:
hajia_mariam_abacha1113@yahoo.es so that the Air-way bill will be prepared
in your name and sent to you to enable you claim the consignment as the
beneficiary.The certificate of deposit will also be sent to you.

Conclusively, we have jointly agreed to give you 30% of the total sum, 70%
will be for our own project and please i want you to understand that we have
already make provision for you by setting outside a specific amount for you
to take proper care of the demurrage, administration charges to finalize
this transaction from the beginning to the end. Looking forward to your
quick response.

Allah Ahfiz.

Best regards,
HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA.

NB: I need you to take a look at this web site
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2282366.stm


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