419 scam: "MORRIS THOMPSON"<morrithom1@gmail.com> FROM: MR MORRIS THOMPSON OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MORRIS THOMPSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <morrithomp@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:07:01 -0700
Subject: FROM: MR MORRIS THOMPSON OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)

FROM: MR MORRIS THOMPSON.
DIRECTOR OF COURIER/PACKAGING DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME .I AM MR MORRIS THOMPSON, I WORK IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.

I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME CLEAR A PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN EUROPE WHICH I USED MY POSITION AS THE DIRECTOR OF PACKAGING WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT IN EUROPE.

THE PACKAGE CONTAINS A CASH SUM OF $10,000,000.00, ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT UNKNOWN TO THE COURIER COMPANY IT WAS DECLEARED AS BANK`S PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENTS, BELONGING TO ONE OF FORIEGN STATIONARY CONTRACTOR.

NOW, WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO IS TO FORWARD IMMEDIATELY YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS, YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX WHERE THE COURIER COMPANY WILL CONVEY A DIPLOMATIC DELIVERING OF THE PACKAGE TO YOU.

I AGREED THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL HAVE 30% WHILE YOU WILL ASSIST ME INVEST 70% OF MY SHARE THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANY BODY.

IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU,FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR MORRIS THOMPSON.
COURIER/PACKAGING DEPARTMENT (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam