419 scam: "Mrs Mariam Abacha"<sergio_oliveira@vodafone.pt> I Need Urgent Reply From You Immediately

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "mariam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "mariamabacha80@zing.vn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2348080018272 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mariam Abacha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mariamabacha80@zing.vn>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 11:14:41 +0100
Subject: I Need Urgent Reply From You Immediately

Greetings !

Beloved, This letter might appear to you as a surprise but I really prayed to God to guide me choose somebody that will be a reliable honest partner, a person who has
a fear of God that cannot betray my remaining bereaved family and me as I don t even know whom to trust so I allowed God spirit to lead me.

I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha; wife of the late military leader of Nigeria who died on the 8th June 1998.

Two weeks before my late husband died, he called me and reveals the existence of US$95,000.000.00 (Ninety five million United States Dollars) being deposited in a 11
years fixed suspense account with a bank in Europe . This money was income accrued from the sale of CRUDE OIL.

This is the basic reason why I decide to contact you, so that you will stand as the beneficiary of the funds, we are prepared to transfer the ownership of the funds to
your name. 30% of the total money goes to you, as a commission for your services, while 70% goes to my family, which we intend to invest in your Country, immediately
the money is in your possession.

I am assuring you that this transaction is risk free as we have put all the logistics in place to make it successful, all we need from you is your co-operation,
Confidentiality and sincerity of purpose. You will be contacting my lawyer on his details below for more details on how you are going to assist us conclude this
transaction. I will wait for your response through my lawyer, thank you and God bless.

I will send you my Nephew phone number so you will speak with him on the best way to proceed.

Name: Daniel Gidado
Tel: +2348080018272

In your email response, kindly forward to me the following:

1 Your Full Name
2.Your Contact (Home) Address
3.Your Telephone and Fax number

Thanks and may the almighty father guide us through.

Thank you.

In your receipts of this message, you are advised to email me back at: mariamabacha80@zing.vn

Mrs Mariam Abacha.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam