419 scam: "Your account officer" <accountofficer72@yahoo.co.uk> Payment confirmation (very urgent)

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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- +4407043063865
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.
- richardblockley@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Your account officer" <accountofficer72@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 02:13:44 GMT
Subject: Payment confirmation (very urgent)

Goldman Sachs International Bank
Peterborough Court
133 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2BB
Tel/Fax +44(0)704 306 3865

Dear Friend,
Permit me to inform you of my desire in going into business relationship with you. I got your contact from a colleague at London Stock Exchange following my effort searching for a trustworthy person to assist me.
My name is Mr. Richard Blockley, a Finance Consultant with Goldman Sachs International Bank (London office), Am as well an account officer to a deceased customer of our bank, we lost this customer in swimming pool accident on the 25th October 2009.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091025/ap_on_bi_ge/us_madoff_associate_death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/26/bernard-madoff-jeffry-picower
And his account of US$20.761 million with us have been unclaimed due to unavailability of next of kin to claim his fund in this account.
In accordance with the laws in England as a kingdom, the board of directors of the bank met today and resolved to turn the estate of the deceased over to the government due to no next of kin stipulated in the account and if this is done, invariably, the funds will end up to become government property and it is as a result of this that am moved to contact.
In view of this, I am seeking your cooperation, confidentiality and understanding to stand as the deceased next of kin to enable us claim the inheritance before the period given by the bank elapse. If you are interested and in agreement with me, get back to me quickly and I will send to you all our bank contacts and the information you may need to proceed, and be rest assured that it is risk free project and am offering you 30% of the fund as soon as its transfered into your account anywhere in the world.

Please reply immediately with your requested details below=
Full Name--------------
Full Address----------
Tel/mobile number-----------------
Country of Residence---------------
Nationality------------------------

I await your prompt response immediately.
Best Regards.
Mr. Richard Blockley.
Private e-mail = richardblockley@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam