419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "centralbnknig@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +2348069784758 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).INTERNATIONAL HEAD QUARTERS GARKI ABUJA <\" inforbankng@webdunia.com\">" <pcastillo@lobarnechea.cl>
Reply-To: "Dr.Sanisu Lamido" <centralbnknig@admin.in.th>
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 13:56:59 -0400 (CLT)
Subject: RE: INSTRUCTIONS on how TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
US$6,800,000.00

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,
PLOT 33, ABUBAKAR,
TAFAWA BALEWA WAY,
P.M.B. 0187,
GARKI ABUJA.
NIGERIA.

CONTRACT DETAIL:
INHERITED CONTRACT#: MAV/NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLUEM COMPANY NNPC.
MAV/NNPC/ IMF/FGN/MIN/99-08.
CODE: CBN-WB-UN-BEF-IN-KTT-ATM-CAS
A/C#: 329601=101245=169=679 BOE
PAYMENT REF: CBN-UBA/IRD/CBX/021/07-08.

Dear Customer,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS on how TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$6,800,000.00

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your payment files in regards to your outstanding that after thorough review of your Inheritance/Contract funds transfer release documents in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of US$6,800,000.00 to your designated bank account from their account with us.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential Clearance Certificate to enable us credit your account directly through any option of your choice by our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

We wish to notify you that your payment had reflected in our systems and we want you to reconfirm all informationâ€™s to authenticate the validity for the payment of your funds via any of the payment modes below.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be delivering and reflect through any option of your choice.

PAYMENT OPTIONS.
OPTION# 1: Global Acceptable ATM Electronic card. REQUIREMENTS: Your Full Name and Physical mailing Address, Telephone Number A copy of your ID card or International Passport for Photo Identity. The ATM card will be dispatched to your given address via a registered courier.

OPTION# 2:
PAYMENT BY INTERNATIONAL BANK-TO-BANK WIRE TRANSFER.

REQUIREMENTS: Your Bank Name and Address also with Telephone Number.

Your Bank Account Name, Number and Bank Swift code is required for the Bank to start the process of the Transfer. Your physical mailing address, contact number and Id are also required. In this mode of payment, A Bank to Bank transfer will be done directly

From the Central Bank to your bank.

OPTION# 3:
PAYMENT BY CASH DELIVERY.

REQUIREMENTS: Your Full Name and Address, Telephone Number A copy of your ID card or International Passport for Photo Identity. This form of payment Diplomats from the Central Bank will be assigned to deliver some boxes to you and the contents are your funds, so if you agree on this kindly get back to me with the requested details.

OPTION# 4:
PAYMENT BY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

REQUIREMENTS: Your Full Name and Address, Telephone Number A copy of your ID card.

These four modes of Payment are currently available under the Central Bank of Nigeria payment modes, so kindly get back to me with your preferred mode of payment.

Having received this vital payment directive, you are qualified now to receive and confirm your payment with your bankers within the next few days.

The target of this office is to ensure that all pre-qualified inherited / contract beneficiaries receive their payment within the next 7th banking days of the commencement of the pre-qualification exercise.

We therefore seek for your full co-operation so as to ensure that the target is archived successfully as promised.

For Transfer and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly forward Your Full Contact, Addresses, Telephone and Fax Numbers to:centralbnknig@admin.in.th

Yours Sincerely,
DR.SANISU LAMIDO (Board Chairman)
Governor Central Bank of Nigeria
Chairman of the Board Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
XYZ Department, (affix relevant department)
Central Bank of Nigeria,
Tel: +234- 8069 -784 -758
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
CC: SENATE PRESEDENT
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam