419 scam: "BNI-INVESTIGATION"<bni-office1@mac.com> Re:

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2348063131451 (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.
- jeffreymann.morganlewislaw1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BNI-INVESTIGATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jeffreymann.morganlewislaw1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:58:50 -0400
Subject: Re:

>From the Desk of Jeffrey Mann

Chairman Bureau of National

Investigation Abuja-Nigeria.

Call me: +234-8063131451

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am Jeffrey Mann the chairman of Bureau of National Investigations(BNI), in alliance with economic community of West African states (ECOWAS). The approval of your overdue outstanding contracts/inheritance and lottery Winning amount has been made in your favour.

We have been working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa with the help of United States Government and the United Nations. We have been able to track down so many of this Scam artist in various parts of West African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF BENIN, TOGO, COTED'IVOIRE, LONDON, GHANA CAMEROON AND SENEGAL) and they are all in our custody here in Abuja-Nigeria.We have been able to recover so much money through United Nation Anti-crime commission, which International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ordered that the funds should be shared among beneficiaries around the globe. This email is been directed to you because your email address was attached with one of the beneficiaries file in our computer hard disk in our custody here in Abuja-Nigeria and you are therefore being compensated with $10.5 Million Dollars.

Since your name appeared among the lucky beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of $10.5 Million, we have arranged your payment through the payment option's given below. You are advice to choose one option from these three methods of payment.

1)    Bank to Bank Swift Wire Transfer, where your compensation fund will be transferred directly to your local bank account in your country,

2)    CASHABLE CHECK, which will ship to you by courier service delivery,

3)    ATM CARD, your fund will be load on ATM CARD and ship to you by courier service delivery..

You are advised to get back to us WITH YOUR CHOICE OF PAYMENT as soon as possible with below information for our immediate action in your compensation payment. we have sent you so many mails but all bounced back.

Kindly send the required detail to jeffreymann.morganlewislaw1@gmail.com

1) Full name, (2) Phone number, (3) Occupation (4) Marital status (5) Sex (6) Address/Country:

Best Regard,

Barr Jeffrey Mann

BNI Office Abuja-Nigeria

Direct Line: +234-8063131451

jeffreymann.morganlewislaw1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam