419 scam: Mr Sanusi Lamido <officeof@att.net> Good day

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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:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +2348064626021 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Sanusi Lamido <officeof@att.net>
Reply-To: mr_sanusi_lamido111@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:41:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good day

ATTN: Our Reliable Client.

YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT . CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.
Our records of outstanding contractors due for payment, with the federal government of Nigeria, Your name was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments. I am MR. SANUSI LAMIDO. The executive governor central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN)

Firstly, I plead on behalf of my country and the Central Bank of Nigeria for not contacting you all this while as regards your contract payment, which I know by now, must have cost you some inconvenience, I am promising
You on behalf of the central bank of Nigeria that this will not repeat
itself any more.

The good news here is that all the necessary fee has been paid and all the bank needs from you is your full information and your $15.7M will be release to you ASAP.you don`t need to spend a cent to get this payment so get back to me immediately for claim before the bank close for the year.

I can not vividly explain how this payment was generated / occurred to you,
but i was informed before I resumed my humble office that a contract with the federal government was executed in your favor by a foreign contractor, who at the point of execution did not receive his payments.

Coupled with the fact that the computer departments of the central bank was burnt down some months ago before I resumed this humble office, and all available information's as regards your information's that was dropped by the foreign contractor was missing as well.

when we were able to trace burnt files we were only left with your email address which I can not see clearly. When this payment notification was forwarded to my humble office, I decided to contact you for immediate payment in an international certified bank draft, or direct crediting to your nominated banking account payable to you in your name .You can also receive it by cash payment.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is $15.7 million dollars (Fifteen million seven hundred thousand united states dollars).

P lease re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your
record and also re-confirm to me the followings

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.Copy of your ID.
As soon as this information's are received, your payment will be made to
you ASAP.You must call me on my direct number +234-8064626021 as soon as you receive this letter
for a serious discussion.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MR. SANUSI LAMIDO
Executive governor,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
D/L:+234-8064626021

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam