419 scam: "U.S ONLINE BANKING" <ofile872@gmail.com> WELCOME TO US BANK CHICAGO-IL HEAD OFFICE,

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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "required fee " (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "foreign remittance manager" (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 us 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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S ONLINE BANKING" <ofile872@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "U.S ONLINE BANKING" <usonlinebanking51@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 02:01:25 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WELCOME TO US BANK CHICAGO-IL HEAD OFFICE,

WELCOME TO US BANK CHICAGO-IL HEAD OFFICE,
United States of America

DEAR CUSTOMER,

In
respect of your fund inheritance payment $14.3Million US Dollars, we
the bank authorities US Bank of Chicago IL, head office will send you a
new ATM VISA CARD that will accumulate your total funds of $14.3 Million
USD according to the instruction from our creditor department here in
the bank today. After the board of directors meeting yesterday 8th,
September 2015 the total payment was approved for payment to you in new
ATM VISA CARD which you must use to make withdraw of your fund in any
ATM slotting machine around the world with maximum amount of $15,000 USD
in daily payment until you cash the total payment of $14.3 Million USD
credited in your ATM account.

Meanwhile, you have to send the
required fee of $125 USD request for obtain the Affidavit of claim
Ownership in your transaction with government of your fund origin been
Federal Justice Republic BENIN, the US Monitory Fund Investigation Union
head office in Washington DC capital United State of America will
declare your payment free from any money laundry and terrorism drug
money sponsor activities to enable our service have the authority of
release the payment to you and register it with US MAILING POST for
over-night delivery to your address without delay.

Furthermore, Reconfirm the following information

Full Name......
Current delivery address....
Mobile phone number...
Direct phone number....

And
here is information to send the fee to them because all modality has
already been worked out even before you were contact and noted; also all
we request from you is to follow our instruction so we can deliver your
ATM parcel to your address today. Send the $125usd only to (ELSON BLUM)
through WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM TRANSFER SERVICE as list following
to enable them release the document today.

Receiver Name:....ELSON BLUM
Country:..........Benin Republic,
City:........Cotonou.
Text Question:...Today?
Answer:........today,
Amount:..... $125 USD Only
MTCN....

Send
us the MTCN Control Numbers or money gram reference number once you
make the payment so we can direct it to the right office imposition to
release the document. And immediately you make the payment to them the
document will sign and your ATM parcel will deliver to your address
without delay.

We in service.
Director Terry Cool,
Foreign Remittance Manager,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam