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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "mariam abacha" <mm_abacha01@msn.com>
Reply-To: mabach01@myway.com
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 04:13:45 +0000
Subject: 20% for your acceptance

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 inclcude 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