419 scam: "UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA"<andrewdowie4@hotmail.com> FROM THE DESK OF ANDREW DOWIE

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447010029705 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- andrewdowie44@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewdowie44@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:50:03 +0530
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF ANDREW DOWIE

FROM THE DESK OF ANDREW DOWIE
SENIOR STAFF IN THE FILE DEPARTMENT
UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA
UNITED KINGDOM.

COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON

I am ACCOUNTANT ANDREW DOWIE, an account officer to a nationality of your country, who used to work here in LONDON. On the 21st of April 2009, my client was involved in a car accident.

Two occupants of the vehicle including the driver unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to locate any member of his family.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at BRITISH POUNDS STERLING FIFTEEN MILLION, £15.000,000.00 left behind by our customer before it gets CONFISCATED or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this amount is deposited. Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account CONFISCATED within the next five official working days.

For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over one year now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, since you are from the same country with our customer, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you then we share the money

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss in details for transfer of the £15.000,000.00 into your account.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law. Remember I am a Banker, get in touch with me through e-mail: andrewdowie44@hotmail.com
tell:{+447010029705}

Best regards

ACCOUNTANT ANDREW DOWIE
UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA LONDON UK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam