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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: "OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CBN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josephajibola@live.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:09:14 +0100
Subject: Confidential Notification

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, (C.B.N)
38 BROAD STREET, TINUBU SQUARE.
PHONE: +234 803 522 3057.
 
 
ATTN: BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTOR/AWARD WINNER
 
 
YOUR PARTICULARS WAS MENTIONED IN OUR JUST CONCLUDED SECOND-QUARTER DEBT SETTLEMENT GENERAL MEETING. A PART PAYMENT OF $750,000 (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WAS APPROVED ON YOUR NAME. THIS PAYMENT WILL BE PROGRAMMED INTO AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM CARD) POWERED BY MASTERCARD AND WILL BE MAILED TO YOUR ADDRESS BY COURIER SERVICE.
YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED TO RE-CONFIRM AND FORWARD TO MY DESK THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION'S:
 
 
1.    YOUR REQUIRED NAME TO BE PRINTED ON YOUR ATM CARD:
2.    YOUR PRESENT RESIDENT MAILING ADDRESS (NOT P.O BOX):
3.    YOUR PERSONAL AND REACHABLE PHONE NUMBERS:
WE ARE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCIES THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED YOU.
 
 
YOURS SINCERELY,
DR. SANUSI LAMIDO AMINU SANUSI
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N)
PHONE: +234 803 522 3057.

Anti-fraud resources: