419 scam: "Rev pastor john smith"<centralbankofnigeria@info.com> Payment notification

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "executive governor" (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)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2347030534690 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- revpastorjohnsmith@mail2world.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev pastor john smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revpastorjohnsmith@mail2world.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 14:58:56 -0700
Subject: Payment notification

Office of the Governor.
Central bank of Nigeria
Tinubu, square, Lagos- Nigeria.
Date: 8th April, 2010.
Our ref: Cbn/Ohg/Oxd1/2010
Your ref: ..............................
Telex: Cenbank.
Payment file: Cbn/Ben/08.
Attn: Beneficiary,
Payment notification of your funds.

I am Mr. Rev pastor john smith, the assistant secretary 2 of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N), the central bank of Nigeria is the parent bank of all commercial banks here in Nigeria. I was instructed to initiate contact with you by my boss the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) on an urgent issue, kindly note that your funds were re-called and re-deposited into the "federal suspense account" of the cbn last week, because you did not forward your claim as the right beneficiary.

My boss the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N), was visited in his office by three gentlemen today, really these men were unexpected by him because their visit was impromptu. He had to ask them why they came to see him in person and they said that they came to collect the inheritance/ contract funds bill which rightfully belongs to you as shown in your file with us, on your behalf and by your authorization.

Note that they actually tendered some vital documents which proved that you actually sent them for the collection of these funds. Below is list of the documents which they tendered to this bank today:

1. Letter of administration.
2. High court injunction.
3. Order to release.

Due to the nature of his job, he cannot afford to make any mistake in releasing these funds to anyone except you who is the recognized true beneficiary to these funds. Note that my boss has asked these men to come back next week so he can verify this fact from you first. Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this payment to these foreigners who came on your behalf. Kindly direct your response to the private email address,below for quicker deliberation and response from him on the release of your funds to you. Please remember to indicate a phone number he can reach you on in your response.

Email: [revpastorjohnsmith@mail2world.com]

Note that for security reasons you have been assigned a code/password which is {TT7222CBN}, please note that this code is the reference number for your transfer and it's being disclosed to you alone, guard this jealously and all your email response should carry this code as the subject.

Yours faithfully,
Rev pastor john smith.

Assistant Secretary 2.
To the Governor.
Central bank of Nigeria
Tinubu square, Lagos- Nigeria.
+234-703-053-4690

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam