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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:12:52 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION!!!SHOULD WE PAY THEM ON YOUR BEHALF?89.249.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY,
THE HONORABLE, GOVERNOR OF CBN.
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS- NIGERIA.
Date Mar.18th,2011
+234-7041860392
Official Web Account:
Our Ref: CBN/OHG/OXD1/2009
Your Ref:..............

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,

Definitely, I know that this letter will be a surprising one to you, firstly, I will like to introduce myself officially as Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, The Executive Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) You are been officially contacted today because your Inheritance/contract Funds was Re-deposited into the "Federal Suspense Account" of CBN last week, because you did not proceed with your Claim as the Rightful beneficiary which is well known to the board and management team of Central Bank of Nigeria. Three men came to my office yesterday in connection of your inheritance/contract fund and these men were unexpected by me because their visit was out of official appointment. I had to ask them why they came to see me in person and they said that they were here to claim the Inheritance/contract sum of (US$22.5m) which rightfully belongs to you as your inheritance/contract title on your behalf, at this development I asked them who authorized them to come down to Nigeria for the
claim to
honestly this was the biggest shock that this Bank has ever received so far because your Inheritance/contract Funds is still in the "Federal Suspense Account" of CBN, yet you sent these men to come and claim this Funds on your behalf without any official notice to authorize and permit this bank to do and execute your inheritance/contract sum to the three men whom you authorized to claim your fund on your behalf. This Bank does not understand why you sent these men to come and claim your Funds on your behalf. If actually you want them to help you claim your Inheritance Bill Sum, at least you should have notified my office so that we will act accordingly. They actually tendered some Vital Documents which proved that you actually sent them for the claim of this Fund. Honestly, it really baffles me that you took such decision without my consent. Here are the Document which they tendered to this Bank today.

1. LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION.
2. HIGH COURT INJUNCTION.
3. ORDER TO RELEASE.

Actually, these Documents which they tendered to this Bank are Proves that you sent them to claim this Fund for you. Finally, I gave them an appointment next week, in order to contact you for verification and authorization before releasing this fund to them. As the Governor of this Central Bank Nigeria, I was supposed to Release this Funds to them but I refused to do so because I wanted to hear from you first. Due to the Nature of my job, I will not want to make any mistake in releasing this Fund to anyone except you whom is the recognized beneficiary to this Fund.
Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this Payment to these foreigners who came on your behalf. In receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to get back to me immediately to enable us proceed with the payment or cancel the payment in their favor and wait for your next instruction.

Best Regards,

YOURS SINCERELY,
MR. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI,
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
+234-7041860392

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