419 scam: "Bank" <pcscbankpayment@gmail.com> PS, Help Me

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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 united state 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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2348050750004 (Nigeria, 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.
- musaji407@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bank" <pcscbankpayment@gmail.com>
Reply-To: musaji407@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 09:05:31 -0500
Subject: PS, Help Me

Dear Friend.

I am Dr .Sani Musaji the personal Account Manager to Late Engineer(Jones
Smith), who was a director with JULIUS BERGER PLC in Nigeria.Here in after
shall be referred to as my client on 30 JAN 2001,Mr Jones Smith and his wife,
and their three children w ere killed in Muslim sharia riot in Nigeria .and
all their family was killed by 1.pm midnight in this Muslim sharia riot on
30 JAN 2001.

Since then I have made several inquiries to his embassy to locate any of my
clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. Before my
Mr.Jones Smith died he had the sum of $18.9million dollars deposited with the
guarantee trust bank plc, which he kept in a safe deposit.

After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate any of my client family
members, I decided to contact you as a foreigner in helping me in repatriating
the money ($18.9million united state dollars} and property left behind Before
the bank get the fund confiscated or declared unserviceable by my bank .His
Bank has issued me a notice to provide any relation or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

I seek your consent to present you as the relation despite the fact that I
cannot come forth since the company and the Bank know me to be his personal
accountant Of the deceased since you are on the same field so that the
proceeds Of this account valued at ($18.9million u s dollars) can be paid to
You and then you and I Can share the money. Thus the sharing formula
remains.35 for you 60 for, investment in a joint venture company for both of
us 5% for unforeseen bottle necks we might in cure in this Transaction.

I also assure you personally that this transaction is 100% legal , risk free
on it as an attorney will be contracted to help us revalidated and notarized
all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we
may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to get this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate Arrangement
that I will protect you from any breach of the law. And I will proved every
document that will show that you are the rightful relation also do not be
afraid feel free and get back to me urgently.

PS.Forward Your Reply To:musaji407@gmail.com

Best regards
Sani Musaj.
+My Mobile +234-8050750004.

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