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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 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.
  • mariam.abacha46@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "abacha mariam" <abacha_m@mail.mn>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:31:40 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend


ABACHA÷µ FAMILY ESTATE
ESTATE DEVELOPER & CONSULTANTS
ATTENTION:
Sir,

I am Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Abacha, wife of the last Nigerian Head of State,
General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on active
duty. Iam contacting you in view of the fact we will be of great assistance
to each other, likewise developing acordial business relationship.I
currently have within my reach the sum of twenty million United States
dollars($20,000,000.00) which I intended to use for investment purposes
specifically in your country. This money came as a result of a pay-back
contract deal between my late husband and a Russian firm in our country
Multi-Billion Dollar Ajaokuta Steel Plant.

The Russian partner returned my late husband share of US$20,000,000.00 USD
after his death, and lodged it in my late husband Security Company, of which
I am a Director. Right now, the new civilian government has intensified
their probe on my late husband financial resources and has frozen our
accounts. In view of these facts, I acted fast to withdraw the
US$20,000,000.00 USD from the company vault and deposited it in a security
safe . No record whatsoever exists concerning the money traceable by the
government because, there is no documentation showing that we received the
money from the Russians.

Due to the current situation in the country concerning the Government
attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible for me to make
use of this money, thus upon your consent. Bear in mind that your assistance
is needed to transfer this fund, I propose a commission of 20% (twenty
percent) of the sum to you for the expected service and assistance. Your
response is highly needed so as to stop further contact. All correspondence
must be by Tel No: or by this email address . I must use this opportunity to
implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extra
ordinarily confidential as I waits to hear from you.
Best regards,

Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Abacha
please reply me at my private email address: mariam.abacha46@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam