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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "maryam 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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • ma_nig1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • m_brown757@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Mrs Mariam Abacha <ma-nig3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ma_nig1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 19:35:11 +0200
Subject: Your Humble Assistance Needed Urgently(Reply Immediately)



Dearest friend, PLEASE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY REASON, YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO MY PERSONAL E-MAIL ID (ma_nig1@yahoo.co.uk) WHICH IS MORE SAFE AND SECURED FOR TRANSACTION OF THIS NATURE... I salute you in the name of the highest God. I am Mrs. Maryam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sani Abacha former Nigerian Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest. Since my husband's death, my family has been under restriction of movement and that notwithstanding, we are being molested and constantly been harassed by the so called security officials, above all, our Bank accounts here and abroad have been frozen by the Nigeria Civilian Govt. Furthermore, my eldest son is detention by the Nigerian Government for more interrogation about my husband's assets and some vital documents that can lead them to recover more funds. Following the recent discovery of late my husband's bank account by the Nigerian Government with my son's bank in which a huge sum of US $700 million Dutch Mark, & another US$450 million was also lodge and 1.6Billion British Pounds Sterling belonging to my late husband, all the said fund was seized by the Government of Nigeria. I therefore wish to personally appeal to you seriously and religiously for your urgent assistance to transfer/Move out the sum of US$35million US Dollars (Thirty-Five Million United States Dollars) into your account in your country where I believe it will be safe, since we cannot leave the country due to the restriction of movement imposed on the members of my family by the Nigerian Government or can you receive for the Abacha family some funds which we already had under the able care of a high UN diplomatic agent in Europe. The in question is about US$35million USD , you can also advise us on areas where and what to invest the funds on abroad, already we are presently nursing the intention of investing into real estates or any other blue-chip investment you can reach my lawyer (Barrister Murphy Brown(SAN) on his private E-mail ID (m_brown757@yahoo.co.uk) as a copy of this letter is equally sent to him in confidence .Any advise should be directed to my lawyer for security reasons thank you.Upon receipt of your good response. My lawyer shall arrange a meeting to facilitate the smooth transfer of the fund , that is to lease with him towards effective compromise of this transaction. However, arrangement have been put in place to remove more of the family fund amounting to $114 million US$ from a Fiduciary house were it is deposited for safety, We succeeded in moving the remaining fund out of the country with the assistance of my late husband's friend's that are top government functionaries that are still in government through a diplomatic means, and been deposited with a security firm, as soon as you indicate your interest. My lawyer shall send to you the Security Deposit Certificate and Airway Bill of the luggage and other related documents so that you can arrange how to proceed for the claim of the luggage tagged "Family Treasures". Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum while 70% in collaboration with my lawyer to be held on trust by you until we can decide on what to do next , subsequent to our free movement which we are expected to be lifted by the Nigerian Government. Please reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity, also note that this transaction has been made 100% risk free for both parties concerned, while anything related to this business should not be exposed to a third party for security reason, as this should be top secret between both parties.. Yours sincerely, Mrs.. Maryam Abacha.(Hajia)N.B: IF IN DOUBT PLEASE VISIT THE BELOW LINKS:<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/613565..stm><http://www.search.eb.com/Blackhistory/article.do?nKeyValue=389478><http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/launder/regions/2002/0523abacha.htm><http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/nov2000/nige-n10_prn.shtml><http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/366259.stm><http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/2/hi/africa/4271245.stm><http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/bank/hba79943.000/hba79943_0.HTM>
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam