419 scam: CALOUS BRUNO. <calousbruno@yahoo.com> Office of Foreign Assets Control

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand u.s dollars" (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)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- barristergadah@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CALOUS BRUNO. <calousbruno@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:50:06 +0300
Subject: Office of Foreign Assets Control

Office of Foreign Assets Control
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasury Annex
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220

Dear: Beneficiary,

RE:REGARDING PAYMENT FILE# 776XT710/IRSCODE654
After the meeting held on August 11th 2011 by world banks delegates and US department of treasury, we have received an order from the government of the states to release all beneficiarys inheritance fund that was recovered from corrupt African bank officials due to their inability to remit the fund to the beneficiary. Based on the record, your inheritance/ contract fund is $US10, 700,000.00 (Ten Million, seven Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars) and your fund has been forwarded to the Debt Management office In New York.

Your fund will be made available to you via Diplomatic Cash delivery, you must contact your claims officer not later than September 10th 2011 After this date, all funds will be returned to the account of National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators as an unclaimed funds. Contact BARRISTER OSMOND GADAH, who is the director of Debt Management office Nigeria branch below:

Contact Barrister Gadah on:
Email:barristergadah@gmail.com
indicate that you have been directed from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Treasury. email him with this code (776XT710/IRSCODE654) for identification. you are advised to furnish Barrister Gadah, with the below information

Provide the following information:
Your full name: _ _ __ ____ _ __ ___
Contact address: _ _ __ ____ _ __ ___
Home phone number: _ _ __ ____ _ __
Cell phone number: _ _ __ ___ _ _ __ _
Occupation: _ _ _ _ __ ___
DOB: _ _ _ _ __ __
NEXT OF KIN_ _ __ __

N.B: Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this strictly confidentail from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money has been delivered to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts.

On behalf of the financial management service of the US Treasury I say congratulations to you.

Yours faithfully,

Calous Bruno.
Office of Foreign Assets Control
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasury Annex
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam