419 scam: "Doc GoodLuck Ebere Jonatha"<info@ng.gov> FUND RELEASE APPROVAL NOTICE VIA THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- fmf.dr.ngoziokonja.gov@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Doc GoodLuck Ebere Jonatha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn.atmdelivery.gov@gmail.com.>
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:59:49 -0800
Subject: FUND RELEASE APPROVAL NOTICE VIA THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Attention: Beneficiary
Payment Purpose: Inheritance Fund Release
Payment Value: $80,000,000.00 dollars
Authourized Paying Bank: Central Bank of Nigeria
Payment Approval Date: 24/03/2012
Email: fmf.dr.ngoziokonja.gov@gmail.com

Dear, Beneficiary

REF: FUND RELEASE APPROVAL NOTICE VIA THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

I write to officially introduce myself to you as "Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala". I was appointed in July 2011 as the new Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to this appointment, I was the Managing Director of World Bank (October 2007 - July 2011) and has also held the position of a Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, between 2003 and 2006. I am notable for being the first woman to hold either of those positions. I served as finance minister from July 2003 until my appointment as foreign minister in June 2006, and as foreign minister until my resignation in August 2006. I am writing by virtue of this email communication to inform you about the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting held yesterday Thursday 2nd February 2012, under the instruction of our President. (Dr. Good-Luck Ebele Jonathan). The purpose of the seating by the Federal Executive Council were concerning foreign debts owed to our foreign contractors/inheritance fund
beneficiaries.

At the Federal Executive Council meeting, the President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) has given instruction to sign off your funds among the twenty four (24) approved funds for immediate payment without any form of delay. The President has mandated that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York should take charge of the approved payments to 24 beneficiaries, of which you are among. All approved funds has been guaranteed by the President to be paid out via "SWIFT telegraphic wire transfer" ONLY. This Memorandum is to notify you that your funds will be settled by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from our Financial Treasury Deposit Account. Hence, your settlement will be actualized within 24 hours after your response to this letter.

However, be informed that a "Presidential tag release codes" must be obtained from the Office of the President for a fee of $120.00 dollars only. The "Presidential tag release codes" is a 16-digit reference code number, which will be sent to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the immediate release and subsequent transfer of your funds into your bank account via SWIFT KTT. And the $120.00 dollar fee charged for issuance of the "presidential tag release codes" is the ONLY out of pocket fees to be paid for your final fund release. You are therefore advised to secure and send the $120.00 dollars via Western Union with the information stated below:

RECEIVER'S NAME: KUNLE MOJEED
DESTINATION: LAGOS - NIGERIA.
TEST QUESTION: FAVORITE DAY
ANSWER: SUNDAY
AMOUNT: $120.00 USD

Please re-confirm to us the full details of your receiving bank account, including your telephone number/residential address, so that upon our receipt of your response and payment details for the $120.00 dollars, your payment data will be submitted to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which is the authourized approved financial institution for your immediate fund release as advised by Mr. President.

Your earliest response will attract immediate settlement of this overdue payment as we have limited time to exercise on this payment arrangement.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Yours truly,

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Honourable Minister of Finance
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Email: fmf.dr.ngoziokonja.gov@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam