419 scam: "John Freeman"<cbn.gov@cbn.com> READ VERY CAREFULLY,VERIFY THE DATA AND GET BACK TO ME.

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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- zofficejohnfreeman@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Freeman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zofficejohnfreeman@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 03:42:47 +0100
Subject: READ VERY CAREFULLY,VERIFY THE DATA AND GET BACK TO ME.

I am John Freeman, a computer scientist with central bank of Nigeria.I am 36 years old, just started work with C.B.N. I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and certificate but the fund has not been release to you. The most annoying thing is that they cannot tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you,instead they let you spend money unnecessarily.

I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you believe in me.I could help you as i intend to do right away so if it pleases you then do get back to me for this most recent solution that has been hided from you years back.

The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISK we call it HD120 GIG. I will buy two of it, recopy your information, destroy the previous one, punch the computer to reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file,after which I will run away from Nigeria.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:YOU WILL SEND THE FEE FOR THE HARD DISK FIRST BEFORE I MAKE YOUR TRANSFER.DON'T CONTACT ME IF YOU CAN NOT SEND THE HARD DISK FEE FIRST.

AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE DISK WILL COST YOU.

MEANWHILE FORWARD ALSO IN THIS EMAIL YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER AND ROUTINE NUMBER FOR A CONFIRMATION AND VALIDATION FIRST BEFORE ANY OTHER UNDERTAKING IS CARRIED OUT .TO FOLLOW IT ALSO IS A CONTACT ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER

Get back to me through the email address zofficejohnfreeman@gmail.com

Regards,
John Freeman

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam