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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: "Central Bank of Nigeria" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_cbn.nig@accountant.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:43:15 +0100
Subject: RE: UPDATE

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Tinubu Square, Lagos, Nigeria. P.M.B. 12194, Lagos Nigeria
www.cenbank.org.
 
Our Ref: CBN/PMT/99236/LOGXB
 
 
Attention: Sir/Ma
 
                                          RE: PAYMENT UPDATE
 
 
The Central Bank of Nigeria hereby confirms to you that we have received your payment file from the Office of the President in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Foreign Payment. They have approved your payment to be paid to you as one of the old beneficiaries among the short listed. In this regard, the Central Bank of Nigeria urges you to reconfirm your Bank Details including your Personal Address because we have two methods of payment. Once is by Telegraphic Transfer and the other is by Electronic Master Smart Card. You are advised to make a choice of a particular method you want your payment to be made so that the Central bank of Nigeria will endeavor to make sure that your payment is made to you without any encumbrance.
 
 
This will enable us to have our report submitted to the Office of the President and the Senate Committee on Foreign Payment and let them know that you have received your fund in god faith. Furthermore, endeavor to update the Central Bank of Nigeria on the receipt of this message for your own good. And also for onward finalization of this transaction that has come to an end. Have a wonderful day and God bless.
 
 
Regards
 
 
MR GODWIN EMEFIELE
Governor,
(CBN) Central Bank of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources: