419 scam: BANK OF AMERICA WESTERN UNION <office---equipment@att.net> Attention:Plaese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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)
- "cotonou" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22998123964 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- bankofamerica01@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BANK OF AMERICA WESTERN UNION <office---equipment@att.net>
Reply-To: bankofamerica01@sify.com
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:01:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attention:Plaese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Â

690 E. HWY. 50 - 11.58 MILES
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
Tell NumberÂ 76072 45014 or 00229-98123964
Private E-mail:Â bankofamerica01@sify.com

Attention:Plaese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Â
For a couple of days weeks now, we have been waiting on you
to contact us in regards of the $2.5 million dollars deposited on your
name by Rev O Johnson PaulÂ according to the depositor has stated that he
was your grand father colloquies, that your grand father lent him the
sum to assist him expand his business but it was unfortunate that he
cannot pay back the money to your grand father on agreed date thus he
decided to pay the money to you asÂ the next of kin .narrated by Rev O Johnson Paul

Â
On 14th Feb, 2011Â Rev O Johnson deposited the sum
worth $ 2.5 million only to our bank with our agreement to pay you the
funds via bank wire transfer for easy and quick retrieval.
Â
With
power
conferred to me as a manager of this bank, I hereby inform you
that I and the management team have finally concluded the wire transfer
to be in your account hence this week, you are therefore advice to
forwarded us the bank data to credit the money. and if you dont want to
receive it via Bank to Bank we have Western Union here and we can
transfer it par day $6000.00 till the funds complete.

Â
Bank name: ................................
Account name: ..........................
Account number: ......................
Sort code: ..................................
Routing Number: .......................

Your phone number:...................

or your receiver name where to receiver it via Western union in our office here.
receiver name..................
Country........................
test Question and test answer...........

Â
Waiting for the account submission.

ButÂ
i want you to know that before we start transfer the funds. you most
get needed Owner Paper from Benin Republic. which going to cost you
only $89.00 , and you send it to our branch for Benin. with this below
name. because we donâ€™t want you to have any problem; with our
GovernmentÂ here. or IMF of this Country that is why we need to get
every thing before we transfer the funds for your account. been advice
that once we transfer the funds it will only take 12 hours before clear
for your account

here is the information where to send it for Benin Republic;

Receivers Name: Dr Chinedu Success.
Location:----Cotonou,
Country-------Benin Republic
Text Q-------how long
Answer--------today
Mtcn::::.......................

Amount:--------$89.00

Â
After the payment remember to forward us the payment slip or the Mtcn
Question and Answer; so that i will forward it to Benin once they
forward us the needed proof , i will contact you with transfer slip and
the proof ,once i send it print it out because you need it to get your
Bank.

JOHN OBISONÂ BENIN REPUBLIC 00229-98123964

CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT,
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam