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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +221764661140 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • isa.ahmed007@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mariam Abacha." <mrs_mariam02001@hotmail.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrs_mariam022001@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:19:01 +0200
Subject: HELLO

My Dear ,

It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in the context stated below:My name is Mrs.Mariam Abacha,the wife of Late General Sani Abacha (former Military head of state and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) who died suddenly on 8th June 1998. I got your contact on the internet as I was making contact for a honest foreigner who will help save my life and my children,hence our country has been frustrating us since the death of my husband.
I have lost confidence with anybody within the country.
Having noted the confidence reposed on your person I became convinced of your capability and goodwill to assist me in receiving the sum of US$16 Million secretly willed in my favour by the late general (my husband).

This money was kept in a Security Company in DUBAI UAE and I have all documents with me as of when it was deposited in a Security Vault for safe keeping.This money has been defaced for Security reasons and also to avoid it been spent by unauthorized persons.We have been deliberating on how to invest this fund abroad in a confidential manner until we came to a conclusion to use it to buy houses and part of it will be used for non-speculative investments in your country.

However,the former civilian administration of retired General Olusegun Obasanjo(The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) whose seeking vengeance on the Abacha family because of the life prison jail sentence confirmed on him by my late husband while in office.

Please you can view this site to see things by your self.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3577032.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3333557.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2492425.stm

In pursuit of this vendetta,the former President Government have resolved to freeze all known assets of General Sani Abacha including properties at home and abroad and are presently embarking on to seize the various bank accounts of my husband in Swizerland,UK,Australia. In fact, the attack on our family (The Abacha's) is so devastated to an extent of seizing our travelling passport,family accounts and even trying some members of our family in court for offences allegedly committed by my late husband.

In view of this grevious threat to our Economic and personal survival,our family trustee have secretly protected the will,The Security Company has called me to do something about claiming this consignment because of the demurrage it is incurring and I told them we would come and claim it very soon. but my son seriously advised me to move the fund into an overseas amount, hence the reason why I have chosen you and hope that you will come to my full assistance and unlimited co-operation.

In the meantime,there is a travelling embargo on us(the whole family members) and our local accounts are seized. We are currently living on goodwill of people who believe we cannot be held responsible for the sins of my late husband.

In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this distressed call to save me and my children from a hopeless future. And if you agree to help me, we will compensate you sincerely for your candid effort in this regard with 20% of the total amount of $16 Million US Dollars. In that case, when the money ($16 Million) is moved into your discrete account, you will be allowed to withdraw 20% in your favour,while 10% has been set aside for any expenses you might incur (There are demurrage to pay before the consignment is sign and claimed by you.)during the process of securing this consignment.

The remaining 70% will be invested meaningfully for my children's My cousin (Dr ISA AHMED) has perfected arrangements with the Trust Company concerned and has been assured 100% risk free and safe operation.What I demand from you now is to arrange to visit the Finance Company where this money is being deposited and claim it as the bona-fide owner.And in due course, all contacts must be made through (Dr ISA AHMED) whom is presently staying in Senegal through this E-mail address: (isa.ahmed007@hotmail.com) and phone:+221764661140. I look forward to your quick response while thanking you for your co-operation. In view of all above details, I request you to keep this letter and co-operation highly confidential.

Best wishes,

Mrs Mariam Abacha.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam