419 scam: "Central Bank"<alert@centralbank.com> Reconfirm: Did You Authorise Payment?

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "centralbankbn2@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <centralbankbn2@mail.bg>
Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 09:09:56 -0600
Subject: Reconfirm: Did You Authorise Payment?

CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN (CBB)
OUR REF: CBB/OHG/OXD1/201
TELEX: CENBANK.
PAYMENT FILE: CBB/BEN/013

DEBT PAYMENT NOTICE OF YOUR FUNDS

Dear Beneficiary,

The Executive Governor Of The Central Bank of Benin (CBB) and the Executive Chairman of "E.C.D.R".I discovered that your name and email address was among the list of individuals and companies in the Central Computer database list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotteries beneficiaries that was originated from Africa/United Kingdom and that your unpaid fund has been located to a suspense account.

Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of $1,500,000.00USD and has been approved already for Payment. Yesterday two foreigners (Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf) visited my office in your stead to inform me that they are your Representatives from United State,whom you delegated as beneficiaries to collect your Funds in your absence.

We in this Bank do not understand why you sent these men to come and Collect your Funds on your behalf. Due to the Nature of my job, I will not want to make any mistake in Releasing this Funds to anyone except you who is the Recognized Bonafide Beneficiary to this Funds.Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this Payment to these foreigners who came on your behalf. In receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to email this Bank immediately to proceed with the funds release or stop with the release to your representatives and claim your funds personally.

Send response to e-mail: centralbankbn2@mail.bg

OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
MR LANDO SALMU
for: CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam