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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Raphael Duke <duuke6@msn.com>
Reply-To: <raphaelduke@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:41:45 +0000
Subject: From Raphael Duke




From Raphael Duke
Private and Confidential
Abidjan - Côte d'Ivoire.
My Dearest One,

It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my junoir sister,intend to establish in your country. Though I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life. I am Raphael Duke, the only son of late Chief Fredrick Duke, from Sierra Leone in west africa. My sources of your contact gave me the courage and confidence to rely on you.

There is this amount of FIFTEEN Million US Dollars ($15.000.000.00) which my late father deposited with a BANK in Abidjan Capital city of Cote d'Ivoire which he wanted to used for his political ambition in our Country before he was assassinated. Now I and my junior sister have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.

We want you to help us claim and receive this money which will be transferred to your safe bank account avoid any traces of the funds and to enable you plan for the investment in your Country. I will like to invest part of the money into these three investments in your Country but, if there is any other business that is better than my suggestion, I will be very glad to follow your advice.

1). Real estate
2). The transport industry
3). Five star hotel
If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund while the balance will be invested by you. I await your soonest response.

Respectfully yours,
Raphael Duke

Anti-fraud resources: