419 scam: Bank of China <test@mittop.com> COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON!!!

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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:
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "johnleee@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +8615817055443 (China, probably a mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Bank of China <test@mittop.com>
Reply-To: <johnleee@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:33 +0530
Subject: COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON!!!

Bank of China
168 Jiangnan Dadao Zhong Road
Guangzhou, China P.R

Attention: Friend.

My name is MR. JOE LEE; I am an accountant with Bank of China. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer who has an account with us, whose name is Late Mr. Paul Wellstone, an American by Citizen who perished in a small plane crash near Eveleth , Minnesota on 25 Oct 2002, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site which I got during my investigation;

. Since the demise of this our customer, I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin, I have made several inquiries to the USA embassy to locate any of Mr. Paul Wellstone extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful and abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$15.5M (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been with our branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his/her name shall be used as the Next of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay long, because the money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed fund after some period of time. In view of this I got your contact when making a research on a foreigner.
http://articles.cnn.com/2002-10-25/politics/plane.crash

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the procedure of this account valued at US$15.5M (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.40% to me, 35% to you and 20% for any charity organization in your country. While 5% for unforeseen bottlenecks we might incur in this transaction an attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

I wait for your quick communication through my private Email (johnleee@w.cn) or call me on this number +8615817055443

Yours Sincerely,

MR. JOE LEE

Bank of China
168 Jiangnan Dadao Zhong Road
Guangzhou, China P.R

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam