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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank Nigeria" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn.governorgodwinemefiele234@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 May 2017 13:30:04 +0100
Subject: RE: Immediate Release of Your $10.5Million Via ATM Card Payment.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Zaria Street, Off Samuel Akintola
Street,Garki 11, Garki-Abuja.
       Our Ref: FGN/CBN/NIG/01/2017.   
 
Your Ref...............................
From The Desk Of Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
SUBJECT: Dear Valued Customer. 
Dear Friend,
 
We wish to inform you that your unclaimed  payment of USD$10.5 Million in Africa has been released and ready to be paid to you via PREPAID VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw the US$10.5 Million from any ATM Machine in any part of the world.
 
We have mandated United Bank Africa Ghana, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw all your US$10.5Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is US$20,000.00 only.
 
You are therefore advice to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department of United Bank Africa Ghana (UBA);
 
Contact Person: Rev. Goodluck Egobia,
Office email address:  atmdepartment.officeubabank1@mailbox.org
 
 
 
Tell Rev. Goodluck Egobia, that you received a message from the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. Instructing him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw your USD$10.5 Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.
 
We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past years.
 
 
Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our congratulations.
 
Best Regards.
Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources: