419 scam: "Office Of The Central Bank Governor"<helpdesk@unitrans-pra.com> RE: MAY 3RD OF 2012.

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348086899190 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Office Of The Central Bank Governor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officeline.00553@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 15:27:53 -0600
Subject: RE: MAY 3RD OF 2012.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIAISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIA
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
CENTRAL BANK OFNIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS

From the Desk Of:
DR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI GOVERNOR (CBN)
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/2011

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT
NO:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/005

Definitely, I know that this letter will be a surprising one to you.

In our office today, was a present of One Mr. John T. Kehoe of 122 Fitch Way, Sacramento, Ca. 95864 filing application contrary to your pending fund transfer. The above mentioned person visited this Bank yesterday with a power of attorney given in his favor by your good self, granting him the benefit to process and claim your inheritance of $36,800,000.00(Thirty Six Million Eight Hundred United States Dollars Only) for personal reasons.

He further Stated that the online account be Terminated while the fund should be wired to his Bank account with Bank Of America, Routing Number 121000358,Swift Code number BOFAUS3N. Our office have asked Mr. John T. Kehoe return back to the Bank within 48hours to enable us have a personal confirmation from you being hitherto the beneficiary.

We are sorry to have delayed your instruction in giving out this fund since we must adhere to the modus operandi of this honorable bank by making sure this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary and his existing
attorney.

Your confirmation to the above will be appreciated. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

In receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to call this Bank on +234-80-86899190 immediately you receive this Confidential Letter.

Await your urgent attention to this.

YOURS SINCERELY,

DR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam