419 scam: "Mark Peters"<markpeters116@yahoo.com.hk> Dear Friend Very Urgent

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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:

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)
- "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.
- +23414175304 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Peters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markpeters115@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 05:51:14 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend Very Urgent

Office of the Deputy Governor, (DG) Operations
(Foreign Payments/Contract Award Unit)
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),
Tinubu-Square,
Lagos-Nigeria
Date: 22/04/2010
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/010
Your Ref: CD4/XX/RFE/VOL23/010

Attention:

I am Mr. Mark Peters, senior accounts officer on contracts matters,
attached to the office of the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

I write to inform your that an unpaid contract payment file worth
$48.5Million, bearing your name was recently discovered from the auditing
exercise to close the fiscal year 2009.

With my position here at the bank, I was able to collaborate with the Head
of Foreign Remittance, Dr Tunde Lemo to secure a payment approval for this
large sum of money.

This fund therefore can be paid to you as the rightful beneficiary as the payment
file bears your name.

Going by the year approved of 2010 Contract Payment Scheme, you are to
receive this sum by telegraphic wire transfer (bank-to-bank).

Kindly supply me with your bank data to enable our Remittance Unit effect
this transfer safely to your account in your country viz:

Feel free to contact the Foreign Remittance director Dr Tunde Lemo
Tel:234-1-417-5304 for more details.

Your Formal Name
Your Bank Name & Address
Account Number,
Routing Number,
Swift Code
You’re Private Telephone Numbers

We shall furnish you with necessary steps assigned for this payment in
line with the CBN Contract Payment/Award ACT 2005.

Thanks.
Regards,
Mr. Mark Peters,
Accounts Division,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam