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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "maryam 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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER ABAH" <drprince_4@msn.com>
Reply-To: usman_abah@walla.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 13:33:36 +0000
Subject: Very important

ATTN: Dear

My name is Barrister Usman Abah (SAN), I am a private attorney . and I have
a client who is interested in investing some good money in your country.My
client is a very important and prominent person who has mandated me to
contact you for a very important business transaction my client is by name
Mrs.Maryam Abacha and she is the wife of a Late Military heard of state in
my country.

Her husband Late General Sanni Abacha made a lot of money through Oil
proceeds during his tenure in office. In fact it was discovered after
hisdeath that he was worth well over ($4.5 billion in United State
Dollars)andsome of this money was retrieve after he died while some was
recovered fromofficials that served under him during his reign as president
of Nigeria.

The truth of this case is that my client despite the problem she is
going through now, she still has a lot of money in her possession, which she
intends to invest outside our country.

What my client need from you now is reliable account where she can
transfersome money but mind you, all the money in her possessions cannot
leave atonce because she need to build confidence and trust.

In some who would not expose her plan to remit and possibly invest in
yourcompany . so she has agreed that I should make arrangements for the
transferof ($60.5 million United States dollars) and you are free to
negotiate yourmode of compensation even as she intends to invest the money
in your country.

Please, do not hesitate to indicate your view of this request by
contactingme immediately you receive this mail so that the
necessary arrangements can be made for the money to leaveimmediately.
Due to the present situation of my client, I would be happy if this
requestcan be kept a secret.

I would also like to note that there is no risk involved.
awaiting for your urgent reply.

Thank Best regards,
Barrister Usman Abah (SAN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam