419 scam: "Mr. Ben M. Bernanke" <bnk_of_america1@yahoo.com> NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.

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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "abuja" (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 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.
- bnk_of_america1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben M. Bernanke" <bnk_of_america1@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2012 00:34:10 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.

The Federal Reserve Board eagle logo links to home page
Bank of America 1890 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Athens, GA 30606
Email(bnk_of_america1@yahoo.com)

NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.

Attn: Beneficiary,

We have this day of 1st Apr, 2012 received a payment credit instruction
from the Federal Government of Nigeria to credit your account with your
full Inheritance fund of US$10.3Million from the Nigerian reserve account
with our bank, Bank of America.However, you shall required to provide the
followings data’s below:

{1}. Your Full Name and Address.
{2}. Your Confidential Tel, Cell and Fax.
{3). Your Bank name and address.
{4). Your A/c Name and A/c Numbers.:
(5). Your Swift Code / Routing Numbers.

Please do provide the above information accurately, because this office
cannot afford to be held liable for any wrong transfer of
funds or liability of funds credited into a ghost account.Secondly,the
only money you pay for the transfer to take place is
just $120 and you are giving 24hours to send the payment and please be
advise that you are to send the payment to American
Embassy office in Nigeria and you are to use this information to send the
$120 and please be informed that you are not going to pay
any other payment to any body and do not be decieved by any body to send
any other payment.

Here is the information you will use to send the payment through Money
Gram or Western union.

Name: Nweke Peter
Country: Nigeria
City: Abuja
Question:Bank
Answer: America

Send me the MTCN once you send the payment.

Thanks for banking with Bank of America while we looking forward to
serving you with the best of our service.

Thanks and God bless you.
Regards,
Chairman Bernanke
Yours in Service,
Mr. Ben M. Bernanke
A/C officer B O A Georgia Branch.
Bank of America.
Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York.
Office Email : bnk_of_america1@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam