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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: "Col.John Daku RTD Sierraleone Army(Bussines Assistance)"
<jdaku@luxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2005 15:58:14 +0200
Subject: Col.John Daku RTD Sierraleone Army(Bussines Assistance)

John Daku.
jdaku@juno.com
01.7.05

Hello,

I WISH TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS COL.JOHN DAKU EXDEFENCE
ADVISER TO SIERRA-LEONE DEFENCE MINISTER. I SERVED ON THE
PRESIDENCY OFFICE ON DEFENCE, IN MY POSITION OF
RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY. I AM INTERESTED IN DOING
BUSINESS WITH YOU OR YOUR COMPANY, VENTURING INTO IMPORT/
EXPORT BUSINESS AS AN INVESTMENT OUTLET. I AM IN
POSSESSION OF THE SUM OF US$ 12.5 MILLION (TWELVE
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS)WHICH I
WISH TO INVEST AS A MATTER OF URGENCY THROUGH YOUR
COMPANY.

IF YOU ARE CONVERSANT WITH PUBLIC ISSUES, SIERRA LEONE
IS GOING THROUGH TERRIBLE STRIFE/WAR NOW.SOMETIME IN 1999,
THE FORMER GOVERNMENT MANDATED ME AS HEAD OF A
DELEGATION TO SOUTH AFRICA TO PURCHASE SMALL AMUNITIONS.
I HAD ALREADY FINISHED NEGOTIATIONS AND RECEIVED THIS SUM
THROUGH THE HIGH COMMISSION IN PRETORIA WHEN I LEARNT OF THE OVERTHROW
OF THE GOVERNMENT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ALL NEGOTIATIONS
ON ARMS PURCHASE AND DEPOSITED THIS MONEY (US$ 12.5
M)IN A SECURITY COMPANY WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
CONTENTS AND GOT HOME.

I WAS ARRESTED AND QUESTIONED ON MY CLOSENESS TO THE
FORMER GOVERNMENT. LUCKILY, NO MENTION OF THE FUNDS
WAS MADE MEANING I WAS CLEARED. I WAS RELEASED IN
DECEMBER 1999 AND PROCEEDED BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA TO
INVEST THIS MONEY BUT DUE TO MY REFUGEE STATUS, I
COULD NOT OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT WITH ANY OF THE BANKS.
PRESENTLY, THE EXISTENCE OF THE MONEY IS UNKNOWN TO
ANYBODY AND IS BACKED UP WITH CERTIFICATE OF CLEAN AND
CLEARED FUNDS ABSOLVING THE FUNDS FROM DRUGS/MONEY
LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES. I WANT TO INVEST OVERSEAS IN A
VIABLE BUSINESS VENTURE THROUGH YOUR COMPANY ON A
MUTUAL AND/PERSONAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.I ALSO
INTEND TO MOVE MY FAMILY OUT OF SIERRALEONE FOR THEIR
SAFETY.CONTACT ME ON ABOVE EMAIL ADRESS (jdaku@juno.com) FOR
DETAILS. I COUNT ON YOUR SENSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY AS I
AM READY TO OFFER YOU 10% OF TOTAL SUM AND LEAVE 5%
TO OFFSET EXPENSES.

NB.PLEASE KEEP THIS A SECRET FOR NOW DO NOT DISCUSS THIS WITH NOBODY.

BEST REGARDS,
COL. John Daku(RTD)

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