419 scam: "BANK OF AMERICA" <deskofficial@sify.com> Re: Fund Available To Pickup.

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "service 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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "non-resident tax" (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. )
- "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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- info.remittancedepartmbnkbj@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "BANK OF AMERICA" <deskofficial@sify.com>
Reply-To: info.remittancedepartmbnkbj@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:50:41 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: Re: Fund Available To Pickup.

Atten Please,

We have been waiting for you to comply today so that we can kindly
transfer your fund into your account and i rush to the bank this
morning to find-out what is going on and the bank said that there is a
little problem with geting your fund. this fee is to provide The
Payment Wire Slip/Non-Resident tax clearance/Transfer-charges. I wish
to inform you that as soon as we receive the payment details today,
you can go to your nearest bank to confirm that your fund is there
with this Code: BA-2954734571-USA. if not clear within 3days. in
order to provide you with secure service, this account will be
suspended.

This code was issued today been 16/03/2010 by 10:45-Am by the board of
directors and if you are not fast in sending the money today and the
code expire within the next 2days. which is 18/03/2010 by 10:15-Pm so
you have to comply fine now so that as soon as we receive the money
today we will get every things done without any further delay again.
If you prefer the bank of amerca, do let us know so that as soon as we
receive the money today.

The bank of america will send your fund in your account within 5hours.
so you have to comply now by sending the Transfer charges/ provide the
Non-resident tax of $55 by western union only, this service is
mandatory that you will send the service fee $55 for the The Payment
Wire Slip/Non-Resident tax clearance/Transfer-charges. using the below
information via western union only with the below information .

Senders Name-----
Recivers name---- Oji Chukwu
Destination country --- Benin Republic
City and state -- Cotonou
Zip code --- +229
Question----What Color?
Answer---Red
Amount---------$55
MTCN--------

You have to contact me back with the below email address so that we
can proceed every things without any further delay today, and forward
us all your details such as the below:

1::Your full name:: ---
2::Your home address::---
3::Current occupation::---
4::Age:: 5::Telephone number/mobile phone number::---
6::A Copy of your identification/International Pass-port::---
Withdrawing Code::---BA-2954734571-USA.

So that we can connect this Code: BA-2954734571-USA with your full
informations/direct telephone number. and your fund will be available
to pickup in any bank in your nearest address you wishes by today as
soon as we receive the requested fee by today.

As soon as you send the money, kindly forward the MTCN to me/
attachement of the western union payment slip. and you have to forward
me your full details via email below so that as soion as we receive
it, we can start connecting your full details by today and your fund
will be available to pickup in any bank near your destination address.

Waiting to hear from you soon/ payment details.
Thanks,
DR. Abudu Z. Mohammed.
Email: info.remittancedepartmbnkbj@gmail.com
Address: C/89-90 Romi Adedi Road, Cotonou Benin Republic.
Tele: (+229)-98446335

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam