419 scam: "Dr. PRINCEWILL DIKE"<pdike55@cenbank.org> THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUNDS

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
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.
- +2348057358663 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. PRINCEWILL DIKE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pdike55@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:20:00 +0100
Subject: THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUNDS

VERY URGENT NOTIFICATION

Hurry now and claim your fund from the Central Bank of
Nigeria or your fund will be confiscated by the wicked
officials of the CBN.

My name is DR PRINCEWILL DIKE.I am a Computer Scientist
working with Central Bank of Nigeria CBN. I am 58 years old,
I was just posted to the telex and computer department with
CBN.

I came across your file marked X and your released disk
painted RED. I took time to study it and tried to find out
why the funds were not released to you.

Those evil officials can never tell you the truth that they
won't release the fund to you; instead they allow you spend
your money unnecessarily.

I do not intend to work here forever; I can help you claim
your fund if you can certify me of my security and assure me
that you would settle with me after you must have received
your payment.

I must do this because you need to know the status of your
payment and cause for the delay. This is like a Mafia
setting in Nigeria and you may not understand because you
are not a Nigerian.

The only thing needed to release this fund to you is the
Original Anti Drug/Terrorist Clearance Certificatecatef And
Non Money laundering Cert, which will be tendered to any of
your nominated bank and the Internal Revenue Service IRS for
clearance of the transferred amount in your account.

Once the Original Coverage Clearance Certificate is
submitted, fund will immediately reflect in your bank within
10 Minutes. The only authorized and sincere person who will
issue you the Original Documents is Mrs. Zainab Yaya.

The president made a compensation fund release for all
unpaid beneficiaries/contractors.

Therefore, you are not only going to receive your original
initial fund, the compensation fund release bonus will be
added to your original fund payment.

The whole funds both your initial payment and the
compensation payment shall be transferred to your bank
account as soon as the Original documents are cleared.

Do get in touch with me immediately with my direct number
+2348057358663 to conclude this final transaction
immediately,and also send to me your convenient tel/fax
numbers for easy communications.

Regards,

Dr.PRINCEWILL DIKE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam