419 scam: "OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR"<Info@mail.com> OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348035311607 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- frankekeh231@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankekeh231@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 09:47:07 -0400
Subject: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

TINUBU SQUARE,

LAGOS.

Our Ref: CBN/LD/HOD/30/04/2013

Your Ref: .............................

Telex: CENBANK.

Tel: +234 803 531 1607

Fax: +23412270437

PAYMENT FILE: CBN/IRD/BEN/2013

Dear Beneficiary,

The Federal Government of Nigeria conducted a proper investigation and discovered that you are among those that we have not paid in the past.

We are sorry for the delay and we also discovered that you have lost a lot of money in the hands of fraud stars / Scammers presenting themselves to be a worker with CBN and other bank officials.

However, all the board of directors and Federal Government of Nigeria have unanimously agreed to remit your fund immediately you provide all the necessary requirements for the wire transfer.

So by this letter, you are advised to re-confirm to me the followings:

1) Your House Address

2) Your name

2) Your working Telephone and Fax numbers for easy communication.

Upon the receipt of this letter call me immediately for more details.

Thanks.

Mr. Frank Ekeh

Director, CBN

frankekeh231@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam