419 scam: "Mr. Paul Thomas" <kumiko@kumikosponge.com> URGENT CHANGE OF ACCOUNT.

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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 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.
- paulthomasun@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Paul Thomas" <kumiko@kumikosponge.com>
Reply-To: paulthomasun@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 11:09:14 +0000
Subject: URGENT CHANGE OF ACCOUNT.

URGENT CHANGE OF ACCOUNT.

Dear Sir/Madam

This is to officially inform you that your contract/inheritance
payment valued US$15, 500,000.00 has been approved by the office of
the Pay Master General as instructed by the Presidency, your
contract/inheritance payment file was forwarded to this office for
immediate payment. Kindly inform us if you have changed your receiving
account details urgently or have appointed one Mr. George Nikolaou of
Cyprus to receive your contract funds with the below account details
submitted.

NAME OF BENEFICIARY: GEORGE NIKOLAOU
BANK NAME: NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE ( CYPRUS)
ADDRESS: 86 MAKARIOS AVENUE BRANCH 541.,3506 LIMASSOL,CYPRUS
SWIFT CODE: ETHNCY2N541
IBAN NUMBER: CY81006005410000005413367487

I want you to confirm if you are aware of the new development, and if
not then I thereafter inform you to re-confirm your receiving bank
account immediately for the transfer of your long delayed contract
funds.

Also reconfirm your direct phone number for immediately communication
with the office of the pay master general as foreign contract payment
are been paid by the new government of Nigeria under the leadership
President Mohammed Buhari.

Kindly reply immediately through the email address below:
paulthomasun@gmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Paul Thomas.

--
OFFICE OF THE PAY MASTER GENERAL
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
(RESOLUTION PANEL ON CONTRACT PAYMENT)
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ABUJA, NIGERIA.

URGENT CHANGE OF ACCOUNT

Dear Sir/Madam

This is to officially inform you that your contract/inheritance
payment valued US$15, 500,000.00 has been aproved by the office of the
Pay Master General as instructed by the Presisency, your
contract/inheritance payment file was forwarded to this office for
immediate payment. Kindly inform us if you have changed your account
or have appointed one Mr. George Nikolaou of Cyprus to receive your
contract funds with the below account details submitted.

NAME OF BENEFICIARY: GEORGE NIKOLAOU
BANK NAME: NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE ( CYPRUS)
ADDRESS: 86 MAKARIOS AVENUE BRANCH 541.,3506 LIMASSOL,CYPRUS
SWIFT CODE: ETHNCY2N541
IBAN NUMBER: CY81006005410000005413367487

I want you to confirm if you are aware of the new development, and if
not then I thereafter inform you to re-confirm your receiving bank
account immediately for the transfer of your long delayed contract
funds.

Also reconfirm your direct phone number for immediately communication
with the office of the pay master general as foreign contract payment
are been paid by the new government of Nigeria under the leadership
President Mohammed Buhari.

Kindly reply immediately through the email address below:
paulthomasun@gmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Secretary to the federal government.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam