419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: BANK AMERICA <hmrc.refund@intelite.info>
Reply-To: BANK AMERICA <americabanko4@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 02:37:11 -0600 (CST)
Subject: very urgent message So that they will release your fund into your
account today OK

Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters
100 N.Tryon St Charlotte,NC 28255
Our Ref:BOA/IRU/SFE/15.5/WD/011
United States of America
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time(EDT)
Saturday and Sunday
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time(EDT)
Customer service: PHONE NUMBER (4805265259)

Attention:

Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters100 N.Tryon St Charlotte,NC 28255Our Ref:BOA/IRU/SFE/15.5/WD/011United States of America Monday-Friday8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time(EDT)Saturday and Sunday8 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time(EDT)Customer service: (917) 503-150 Dear esteemed customer,The Management of the Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters here in 100 N.Tryon St Charlotte,NC 28255 wishes to inform you that after a brief meeting held by the Bank executives yesterday,the 7th of August,2015
at precisely 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time(EDT), we deem it appropriate to intimate you that your funds will be
transferred into the United States Treasury Account with the JP Morgan Chase Headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York according to the record we got from Africa due to your inability to complete the
transaction and your failure to meet up with a minor payment obligation.The actual transfer of your funds($15,500,000.00) into the government account comes up next week.

This is in line with the instructions of the USA Treasurer,Mrs.Rosa Gumataotao Rios that all unclaimed funds be paid into the United States Government Treasury Account as unserviceable funds in compliance to section 3 subsection 1(a) of the United States Financial Law enacted in 2001 after an attack on our dear country on September 11,2001.

Find below the profile of the banking institution where your funds will be transferred into following the government directive:, And note
to responds to us with below

Name of Bank: JP Morgan Chase Headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York. JP Morgan Chase Official Bankers for the United States Treasury Department
AC NO: 9245093
Routing NO:02110959
Account Name:United States Treasury Department,USA

Note that if you still wish to receive your funds do get back to us immediately so that we will remove your funds transfer from the list of those transactions to be seized by the United States Government.Also be informed that we need only a DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SEAL OF TRANSFER(DIST) to complete the wire transfer.The fee to obtai the SEAL was reduced to $75 and no other fee is involved.

You are required to send the fee of $75 by WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM to the issuing officer at the bank where your transaction
originated as stated below:

INFORMATION

Receivers Name: MIKE NWAL
Country :Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Question:When
Answer:Now
AMOUNT to send: $75
Email the following
Sender's name:
MTCN or REFERENCE Number

The name of the city from where the money was sent

If we receive the MTCN today,we will transfer your funds ($15,500,000.00) before we close office and the funds will reflect 3 hours after the transfer.We will send you all the transfer documents to enable you start making cash withdrawals from your account same day the funds are transferred.We have waited for so long and we cannot continue to wait.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your banking needs.

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Brian Moynihan(CEO)
Bank of AmericaÂ®
Tele MY DIRECT PHONE NUMBER (4805265259)
Corporate Office Hedquarters,
Charlotte,N.C.Bank of America, N.A.
Member FDIC.Â© 2013
Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
AR72768/DD6A6

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam