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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS MARIAM ABACHA" <mrs_mariam205@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mariam620@compaqnet.fr
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 08:41:10 -0700
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME.

DEAR FRIEND,

GREETINGS AND COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON.

PLEASE GIVE ATTENTION TO THIS MAIL AS I HOPE ON YOU, LET ME FIRST INTRODUCED
MYSELF CLEARLY TO YOU .

I AM HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA THE WIFE OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST MILITARY PRESIDENT
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA WHO DIED ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1998.I GOT
YOUR ADDRESS WHILE GOING THROUGH THE INTERNET SEARCHING FOR A RELIABLE
BUSINESS PARTNER, I THINK I WAS LED BUT NOT ERRONIOURSELY BUT TO MAKE A
SINCERE PREPOSITION TO YOU.

MY MAJOR REASON FOR WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU IS THAT MY HUSBAND LEFT A LOT
OF PROPERTIES AND HUGE AMOUNT OF CASH, MONEY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH.THE
PRESENT GOVERMENT OF THE COUNTRY THAT SUCCEEDED MY HUSBAND IS AVOURABLE TO
OUR FAMILY AND INDEED HAS SHOWN THIS,BY THE COFISTICATION OF MANY OF OUR
LANDED PROPERTIES AND LAREG AMOUNT OF MONEY BELONGINGS.FORTUNATELY,WE HAVE
DISCOVERED MY LATE HUSBAND WILL. THIS WILL STATES THAT THE SUM OF US$25.5
MILLION HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY VAULT IN OVERSEAS FOR THE ENTIRE
FAMILY. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SECURITY VAULT AND IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT
THE US$25.5 MILLION IS STILL INTACT AND THAT WE ARE ABSOLITELY FREE TO
COLLECT THE BOX CONTANING THE MONEY ANY TIME WE WANT.DUE TO THE DEATH OF MY
HUSBAND AND THE ARREST OF MY ELDEST SURVIVING SON (MOHAMMED ABACHA)THE
HANDICAP.

AT THIS MOMENT IS THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF OUR COUNTRY WILL CONFISCATE
THIS MONEY IF WE MAKE USE OF IT IN THIS COUNTRY.WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF A
FOREIGNER WHO WILL HELP TO INVEST THIS MONEY OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY.THIS IS WHY
I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO ASSIST US.NOTE I WILL COMPASATE YOU WITH 10%OF
THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AND THE REST TO BE RELEASED TO ME.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GIVING THIS ASSISTANCE, PLS INDICATE YOUR INTERST
THROUGH MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE.I WILL THEN GIVE YOU THE ENTIRE
MODALITIES FOR THE BUSINESS ON RECIEPT OF YOUR FAX MESSAGE.

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDS TO BE EXPEDITED BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SOME WORKING
DAYS FOR NEGOTIATION. PLEASE KEEP THIS BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL.AND DO GET BACK
TO ME.

BEST REGARDS,
HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam