419 scam: Bernard Looney <bernardlooney111@gmail.com> OVERTURE

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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "bernardlooney1@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Bernard Looney <bernardlooney111@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <bernardlooney16@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:50:18 -0800
Subject: OVERTURE

Hello,

I know this letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have
never met or discuss before, basically the message might sound strange but it
is factual in reality if only you care to know, The truth is that I should
have notified you first through a more confidential means, (even if it's at
least to respect your integrity) please accept my humble apologies if I Had
caught you unawares, I frankly do not mean any harm in passing my message.

We are members of the Special Committee for Budget and Planning of the British
Petroleum and Mineral Resources, This committee is principally concerned with
contract appraisal and the approval of contract in order of priorities as
regards capital projects of the British Inland Revenue, with our positions we
have successfully secured for ourselves the sum of Twenty Million Five Hundred
Thousand British Pounds (20.5 Million Pounds) the amount was accumulated from
the over invoice.

Hence together with some of the top officials of the British Petroleum and
Mineral Resources, We plan to transfer this amount of money Twenty million
five hundred thousand Pounds (20.5Million Pounds ) into an overseas account by
awarding a non existing contract from my ministry (BP). To this effect I
decided to contact you and ask for your assistance, what we need from you sir,
is to provide a very vital account in which the fund will be transferred.

My Colleagues and I have agreed to compensate the owner of the account used
for this transaction with 25% of the total amount remitted; we shall keep 73%
and remaining 2% reserved for taxes and other miscellaneous expenses. Finally
the confidence and trust reposed on you cannot be over emphasized, Therefore
you are to keep this Deal to yourself confidentially because Caliber of
personnel's involved are men in government and cannot effort to loose our
respective reputation to our dear country if jeopardized by you.

Please Contact me urgently through this my private email address:
bernardlooney1@outlook.com for our easier communication.

Yours Faithfully
Bernard Looney
Chief operating officer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam