419 scam: "James Comey"<erefic@erefic.com> Attention:

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- gov.centrallbankkofnigeria@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Comey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <finvestigation60@yahoo.es>
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2015 04:37:25 +0100
Subject: Attention:

WELCOME TO FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FROM THE DESK OF MR JAMES COMEY
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET
www.fbi.gov

Attention Please,

This is an official advice from the FBI Foreign Remittance Telegraphic Dept,We write to inform you that it has come to the notice of the federal bureau of
investigation (FBI) that the sum of $10.5 million united states dollars were
transferred from the central bank of Nigeria to the bank of America here in
the united states, bearing your name as the beneficiary by de new Central Bank Governor with apology note for all the delay and wasted efforts caused by previous/old Central Bank Governor and his officials.

We did not believe this at first until we saw the transfer, then we had no
other option than to place the funds on hold until you are able to prove to us
that you are not a terrorist or a money launderer, by obtaining what is called
a Diplomatic Immunity Seal of transfer certificate from the funds originated
country. Note that we have done a proper investigation on this transaction and
from our investigation, this funds truly belongs to you and it is not a scam,
but we have instructed the bank of America not to release the $10.5 million to
you until you prove the legitimacy of the funds you are about to receive.

As a matter of fact, you will be charged for money laundering and terrorism,
if you fail to prove to us that you are not a terrorist or a money launderer
by obtaining the above mentioned certificate from the funds originated
country, and if you are found guilty as charged, you will go to jail.
You have just only 72 hours to prove to us that you are not a terrorist,
failure to comply with our instruction, you will be arrested and detained
until this matter is settled. Meanwhile i hope you are aware that all your
data/information we have it all which makes it easier for us to arrest you
when ever we want to. Below are the contact details of Central Bank of Nigeria
Governor that will help you to obtain the required Document but you must send
him $450 to be able to obtain the said document from the United Nation Office
as He explained to me, and afterward your $10.5 million will be released to
you as soon as the required document is obtained.
Therefore you have been advised to get the required Document from the Governor
Central Bank of Nigeria on his below contact immediately you receive this
email or you will be arrested by the FBI, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Contact person: Mr Godwin.I .Emefiele
Email: gov.centrallbankkofnigeria@gmail.com

Contact him at once email him your residence address where the required
Document will be mailed to and your Phone # .More so, ask him how & where to
send him the $450 for the document today, Remember you have 72hours to
provide us with the document(Diplomatic Immunity Seal )

Best Regards,

James Comey
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.
20535-0001, USA

*******************************************************************
DISCLAIMER NOTICE: Information contained in this email is confidential and
intended for the addresses only. Any dissemination, distribution, copying or
use of this communication without prior permission from the address is
strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient of this
communication, please delete it permanently without copying, disclosing or
otherwise using its contents, and notify the sender immediately.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam