419 scam: Hamza Lois <hmzlois@gmail.com> Payment Notification

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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:

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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- maryjonesxx@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Hamza Lois <hmzlois@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maryjonesxx@aol.com
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:20:24 +0100
Subject: Payment Notification

Tim Steve
Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract and
Inheritance fund Payment Notification
Sir,

Re-Release of your Inheritance Fund Value US$15.3M.
The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official
Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/Inheritance Fund
payment Valued at USD$15.3m in conjunction with NIGERIA Government and
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.

This decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name
(MRS: JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you
gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding
Contract/Inheritance/award funds.

She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin.
We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address
hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at
any time gave this woman (MRS: JANET WHITE) the power of attorney to
represent you.
Please let us know also if you are aware that we have almost completed
arrangements that will necessitate the immediate transfer of the above
funds to the nominated Bank Account presently with us. Please go ahead and
advice us immediately on the nest line of action. Below is the nominated
bank account from MRS: JANET WHITE.
Bank Name: Washington Mutual Bank
Address:

1723 Palmdale Bulv.
Palmdale Ca. 93550, USA
Acct # : 3573813158
Rout # : 322271627
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
Beneficiary: JANET WHITE
If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to me immediately
by contacting this office.
For immediate transfer of your funds, be informed that you are not allowed
to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer
other than this office. You are required to send to this office an email
with the following information below:
1) YOUR FULL NAME__________________

2) Address_______________________

3) Your Telephone Number_________________________

4) Age and Sex_______________________

5) Occupation______________________

6) Copy ID or International Passport for Identification.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Tim Steve
Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract And
Inheritance fund Payment Notification
Email:maryjonesxx@aol.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam