419 scam: "John Alison"<info@centralbank.com> Confidential..

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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: "John Alison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Johnalison1001@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 05:27:19 -0800
Subject: Confidential..

Confidential

Greetings to you my friend,

I know this will come to you as a surprise because you do not know me. I am John
Alison; I work in Central Bank of Nigeria, packaging and courier department.

I got your contact among others from a search and was inspired to seek your
co-operation, I want you to help me clear this consignment that is already in
the Europe which I shipped through our CBN accredited courier agent. The content
of the package is $20,000,000.00 all in $100 bills, but the courier company does
not know that the consignment contains money.

All I want you to do for me now is to give me your mailing address, your private
phone and fax number, and I believe that at the end of the day you will have 30%
and 70% will be for me. My identity must not be revealed to anybody.

If this arrangement is okay by you, you can email me with my personal email
Johnalison000@ymail.com for security reasons other modalities will be discussed
as soon as you get back to me indicating that you are ready to partake in this
transaction.

Note: You will act as the real owner of the said consignment.

Warm regards to your family,
Mr. John Alison

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam