419 scam: "CHRISTOPHER SMITH"<efabian@cyberhotline.com> Your Attention Is Needed Asap

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "lamido aminu sanusi" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
- +2348079515756 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHRISTOPHER SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn.cbn70@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 04:10:33 +0200
Subject: Your Attention Is Needed Asap

>From the Desk of: Mr. Christopher A. Smith
Director of Foreign Operation Department of
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way
Central Business District, Cadastral Zone,
Abuja , Federal Capital Territory , Nigeria
P.M.B. 0187, Garki Abuja. Nigeria
234-807-951-5756 (Phone)

To Your Urgent Attentions:

CONTRACT NO: CBN/FGN/MIN/009

Dear beneficiary,

This is vital information from the office of Mr. Christopher A. Smith Director of Foreign Operation Department of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) we crave your indulgent to note that F.O.D of CBN is the authorized department in CBN in charge of your contract payment funds release to you.

We deemed it necessary to inform you that we have received the three gentle men you sent over to F.O.D of CBN as your Next of Kin and Representative to claim your contract payment funds deposited in CBN treasury basement.

You have been contacted by F.O.D of CBN today to give a brief testimony approving that you authorized this gentle men as your next of kin to claim your contract payment funds to the sum of US$12, 800,000.00 (Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only). You have two banking working days 48hours precisely to send in your testimony approving the visit and status of these men as your true Next of Kin and Representatives.

Meanwhile, if the gentle men are impostors impersonating you to claim your funds notify us before the above deadline because if you fail to comply, we will assume your silence that you sent the men down to Nigeria on your behalf for the claim of your funds and we will release the funds to them at once.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours

Mr. Christopher A. Smith.
Cc: Mr. Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi Gov. CBN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam