419 scam: "Bank Of Africa"<bankafrica.470@rediffmail.com> Your Atm Visa Card Valued $2.7 Million IS NOW READY

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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +22999957967 (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.
- sky_courier2012@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bank Of Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sky_courier2012@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:52:09 -0700
Subject: Your Atm Visa Card Valued $2.7 Million IS NOW READY

Dear,Beneficiary:

Having reviewed all the obstacles and problems surrounding the transfer of
your (($2.7 Million) Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars and your inability to meet up with some charges levied against you

due to the past transfer options,we the Board of Directors, Bank Of Africa
(BOA) has ordered our Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to issue you a VISA
CARD where your payment will be uploaded. Today, we got the notice that

your Payment has been uploaded into this VISA CARD and also have
registered it with Sky Express Courier Service. For your information, The
delivery charges have been paid and they are supposed to have shipped your

packaged (ATM CARD) but they insisted that you must re-confirm to them
your current delivery address to ensure accurate Delivery.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Due to the content of the package, Sky Express mandated

that before your package will be shipped, a Stamp Duty MUST be procured
according to the New Shipping Creed and the essence of such Document is to
ensure a hitch-free delivery and the amount is $121. When this is done,

Sky Express will issue you with the tracking numbers for your package
before the shipping commences Therefore reconfirm your current delivery
address. Do not forget that this $121 is all that you should send to them,
the rest of the fees have been paid.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Your full name: ......................
2. Your house phone: ....................
3. Your cellphone:.......................
4. Scan copy of your passport photograph ----
5. YOUR HOME ADDRESS: WHERE YOU WANT US TO DELIVER THE ATM CARD TO
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, for security reasons and considering the huge amount the ATM
Master-Card contains, the Package was coded thus,Registration Ref: S
kyex/atm/100. This is the code you shall send to SkyCourier Company.
Please hurry now as your package might incurr demurrage if it stays
more than 3 days with Sky-Express

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks,
Dr. Kole Anderson
ATM Department Manager
Bank Of Africa

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sky-Express Courier And Delivery Company
Director: MR.STEVE MALONE.
Email:(sky_courier2012@rediffmail.com)
Phone: +229-99-95-79-67
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam