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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: "JOHN MARK" <johnmarkcbn8@gala.net>
Reply-To: johnmark_cbn@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:09:22 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF ENQUIRY ON INHERITANCE PAYMENT.


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
TEL:234-80 24988963



LETTER OF ENQUIRY ON INHERITANCE PAYMENT.


WE WRITE TO ENQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE SENT SOMEBODY FROM SWITZERLAND MR
SCHEMIRLAT AND SOME NIGERIA REPRESENTATIVE INCLUDING YOUR ATTORNEY TO THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) TO MAKE CLAIM ON YOUR BEHALF. THIS YOUR FUND
HAS BEEN CALLED BACK BY THEY CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA SINCE JUNE 2008 FROM
HSBC BANK LONDON DUE TO THERE INABILITY TO HANDLE THE TRANSACTION.


TODAY AT ABOUT 10.00 AM NIGERIA TIME, MR SCHEMIRLAT AND YOUR NIGERIAN
REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO THE BANK SAYING THAT YOU HAVE SENT THEM TO MAKE CLAIM
ON YOUR BEHALF ON YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS $26.5M USD.


I INITIALLY INSTRUCTED FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO THEM AS THEY CAME
WITH
ALL OBLIGATORY DOCUMENTS, BUT ON CROSS CHECKING YOUR INHERITANCE FILE, I
DISCOVERED THAT THE BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER THEY PRESENTED WAS DIFFERENT FROM
YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT AND THE BENEFICARY OF THE ACCOUNT THE BROUGHT IS
CHANGORI AND CHANGORI THAT'S MAKE US TO SUSPECT THEM, THIS IS A SERIOUS
MATTER IN THE APEX BANK NOW AND WE HAVE GIVEN A MANDATE TO RELEASE THIS
FUND TO YOU BY THE PRESIDENCY.


NOW WE HAVE REQUESTED THEM TO FORWARD A POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM YOU,
INFORMING THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) OF THE CHANGE IN ACCOUNT
NUMBER.THIS THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO COME
BACK IN TWO DAYS TIME.


THIS IS TO ENABLE US CONTACT YOU AND VERIFY HOW GENUINE THESE TWO PEOPLE
ARE TO YOU, THOUGH THEY PROMISED TO PRODUCE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY ON THEIR
NEXT VISIT TO THE BANK.


I HAVE DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO CONTACT YOU AND ASCERTAIN THE TRUE POSITION IN
OTHER TO AVOID REMITTING THESE FUNDS INTO A WRONG ACCOUNT. COULD YOU PLEASE
CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED THROUGH THE MAIL, TO CONFIRM MATTERS BEFORE WE START
TAKING LEGAL ACTION, BUT IF THEY ARE FROM YOU, KINDLY GIVE THEM THE POWER OF
ATTORNEY FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE INHERITANCE FUNDS INTO THE SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT(UBS) AG BANKING SWITZERLAND.


YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE PRESIDENCY, AND IN LINE WITH
THE ENABLING DECREE OF 512 "A" IN CONSULTATION WITH THE RELEVANT BODIES; THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN), THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
(NEIC) AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF), WE HAVE RESOLVED THAT ALL
OVERDUE INHERITANCE PAYMENTS BE RELEASED THIS QUARTER IN ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE
TO THE I.M.F AND WORLD BANK MANDATORY CONDITIONALITIES OF SERVICE TO OUR
FOREIGN CAPITAL DEBTS. BASED ON THIS, THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN MANDATED BY THE
PRESIDENCY TO HANDLE ALL PAYMENTS DUE TO FOREIGN INHERITANCE.


YOU SHOULD THEREFORE DISREGARD ANY CORRESPONDENCE THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR MAY
COME TO YOU FROM ANY OTHER PERSON OR DEPARTMENT.IF YOU REALLY NEED THIS
MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH YOUR FILE AND WE FIND OUT THAT YOU ARE
THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE INHERITANCE FUND. PLEASE ASSIST US TO
EXPEDITE ACTION AND GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL
NOW.YOU CAN CALL ME ON MY DIRECT LINE 234-80 24988963 I AM WAITING FOR YOUR
PROMPT RESPONSE AND CO-OPERATION.


YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR.JOHN MARK
INTERNTIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
YOUR URGENT REPLY NEEDED


CC: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
CC: SENATE PRESIDENT
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA.

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