419 scam: Michael Hope <info70@btinternet.com> Attention:Beneficiary

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Hope <info70@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: michaelhope505@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:12:59 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attention:Beneficiary

Attention:Beneficiary

I am writing you to confirm on the receipt that your funds was In our custody approximately 14.5 million America dollars,which will be transfer to your account or will be configurated into an Atm Card and send to you,through this department of this bank,foreign operations/telex department of the Central Bank Of Nigeria,In additional,be informed that your funds was guaranteed by the west Africa monetary agency before depositing to our suspense account which have made it impossible for any individual,bank or official to deduct even a cent from the source funds.Be advised that this bank will not welcome any third party to this funds.And be informed that this department works 24 hours Monday till Saturday.

Note that by your responds to this email the swift activation form will be send to you before the transfer of your funds to your nominated account or configured into an ATM CARD and send to you.in not more than 3 working days.what ever options you choose.which will be filled in the swift activation form.When replying this email you should also send to me your name in full,Phone number,age,occupation/Position,a copy of your scan identification and contact address.

Dr Michael Hope

Foreign Perations/Telex Director
Central Bank Of Nigeria
Private Mail Box No 16
Meridian House Lagos
Nigeria.West Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam