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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "DUKE CONSULTS." <dukeconsults69@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 14:17:36 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

FROM: THE DESK OF DR DONALD DUKE.
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLUEM CORPORATION (NNPC)
BUILDING 23-26, FALOMO OFFICE COMPLEX
IKOYI, LAGOS.

THE PRESIDENT/CEO



I AM THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT TO NIGERIAN NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC), AND A MEMBER OF FIVE MEN
COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE PRESENT DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.WE WERE
EMPOWERED TO VERIFY AND INVESTIGATE CONTRACTUAL
PAYMENTS OF THE MINISTRY MADE DURING THE PAST MILITARY
ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA.

DURING THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION WE DISCOVERED
US$30 MILLION, FLOATING IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF THE
MINISTRY. SUBSEQUENTLY, OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALED
THAT THIS AMOUNT ORIGINATED FROM OVER INFLATED
CONTRACT, WHO’S BENEFICIARY HAS BEEN DUELY PAID FOR
THE COMPLETION OF CONTRACT EXECUTION. THOUGH WE
DISCOVERED MORE SEVENTY-TWO SIMILAR CASES BUT WERE
RECOVERED TO THE GOVERNMENT CONFER.

CONSEQUENTLY TO OUR RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER THIS SUM
(US$30M) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT TO ENABLE US INVEST
THE MONEY, I WAS THEREFORE, MANDATED BY MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES TO SEEK FOR A TRUSTWORTHY INDIVIDUAL OR
COMPANY WHOSE BANK ACCOUNT WILL RETAIN THIS MONEY. I
GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM MS REGINA HUCHMUTT A PARAGUAYAN
WORKING WITH WORLD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE,
LAGOS.

WE RESOLVED THAT YOU SHOULD OWN 25%OF THE FUND FOR
YOUR SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE WHILE 5% SHALL BE USED FOR
TAXABLE CHARGES. THE REMAINING AMOUNT SHALL BE FOR
OUR INVESTMENT ABROAD.

HENCE, IF THIS OFFER INTERESTS YOU, BE VERY URGENT TO
INDICATE YOUR INTEREST THROUGH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS.
WITH OUR POSITION AND RELEVANCE TO THIS PRESENT
GOVERNMENT WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED EVERY MODALITIES TO
GET THIS MONEY TRANSFERRED WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS
WITHOUT ANY RISK. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO MAINTAIN
STRICT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE TRANSFER PERIOD IS
CONCLUDED. HAVING ACCEPTED OUR PROPOSAL YOU SHOULD
FORWARD YOUR SAFE BANK ACCOUNT PARTICULARS, YOUR
PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR IMMEDIATE
COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
IN ANTICIPATION TO HAVE DEEP BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU, I EXPECT YOUR POSITIVE REPLY.

BEST REGARDS,
Donald Duke.


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