419 scam: "Mr. John Mensah." <oficefile@neu.com.cn> IS THIS YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS? (CODE219) YJBYEPZGRS?

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
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.
- johnmensah@pnetmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Mensah." <oficefile@neu.com.cn>
Reply-To: <johnmensah@pnetmail.co.za>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:01:33 +0100
Subject: IS THIS YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS? (CODE219) YJBYEPZGRS?

IS THIS YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS? (CODE219) YJBYEPZGRS?
FROM: MR.JOHN MENSAH,
Director, Tested Computerization Foreign Transfer Unit
TELEPHONE: +234-241-776501
EMAIL: johnmensah@pnetmail.co.za

YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS.

ATTN: SIR/MADAM,

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU OR THROUGH ANY OF OUR CORRESPONDENT BANK NOMINATED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON OVER DUE FOREIGN PAYMENTS. MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION FOR YOU TO RE-CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, IF THIS WOMAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE ANY WRONG ACCOUNT AS THE CASE MAY BE?

NAME: NAME JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATIONS FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALID US$7.5M US DOLLARS AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD FOR THE SECOND FISCAL QUATERS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT. THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR BEHALF. INFORMATION NEEDED

FROM YOU FOR VERIFICATION IS AS FOLLOW:

1. YOUR FULL NAME & AGE
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS
3. YOUR TELEPHONE/ FAX
4. A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATION
5. YOUR OCCUPATION
6. YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH ALL
NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,

INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE/FOREIGN
OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2009. HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN BANK DAYS FROM TODAY.

WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERING OF THIS FUND MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU EARLIER. SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO: (johnmensah@pnetmail.co.za) AND CALL ME ON +234-24-1776501.

BEST REGARDS,

MR.JOHN MENSAH
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK.
CC: SENATE PRESIDENT
CC: ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICES
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [BFD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam