419 scam: "Mr.Brian Moynihan" <boa@usa.net> Dear esteemed customer,

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.
- boaheadquaters@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Brian Moynihan" <boa@usa.net>
Reply-To: boaheadquaters@usa.com
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:54:33 -0300
Subject: Dear esteemed customer,

Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters
100 N.Tryon St Charlotte,NC 28255
Our Ref:BOA/IRU/SFE/15.5/WD/011
United States of America
Email; boaheadquaters@usa.com
Phone: 713-510-0967

Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Saturday and Sunday
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Dear esteemed customer,

The Management of the Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters here In
100 N.Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28255 wishes to inform you that after a Brief
meeting held by the Bank executives on, the 10th Day of JAN, 2013 at
Precisely 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), we deem it appropriate to
Intimate you that your funds will be transferred into the United States
treasury Account.

with the JP Morgan Chase Headquarters at 270 Park Avenue In New York
according to the record we got from Africa due to your Inability to complete
the transaction and your failure to meet up with a Minor payment obligation.
The actual transfer of your funds ($15,500,000.00) Into the government
account comes up next week.

His is in line with the instructions of the USA Treasurer, Mrs.Rosa
Gumataotao Rios that all unclaimed funds be paid into the United States
Government Treasury Account as unserviceable funds in compliance to Section
3 subsection 1(a) of the United States Financial Law enacted in 2001 after
an attack on our dear country on September 11, 2001. Find below the profile of
the banking institution where your funds will be Transferred into following
the government directive:

Name of Bank: JP Morgan Chase Headquarters at 270 Park
Avenue in New York. JP Morgan Chase Official Bankers for the United States
Treasury Department
AC NO: 68302345093
Routing NO: 021109593
Account Name: United States Treasury Department, USA

Note that if you still wish to receive your funds do get back to us
Immediately so that we will remove your funds transfer from the list of
Those transactions to be seized by the United States Government. Also be
Informed that we need only a DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SEAL OF TRANSFER (DIST) to
complete the wire transfer. The fee to obtain the SEAL was reduced From$600
to $197 and no
other fee is involved. You are required to send The fee of $197 by WESTERN
UNION to the issuing officer at The bank where your transaction originated
as stated below:

HERE IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION

Receivers Name:.. EMMANUEL OKOYE
Country ... BENIN REPUBLIC
City .... COTONOU
Test Question.... IN GOD
Answer ... WE TRUST
AMOUNT to send... $197
Sender's name...
MTCN Number.......

If we receive the MTCN today, we will transfer your funds ($15,500,000.00)
Before we close office and the funds will reflect 3 hours after the Transfer.
We will send you all the transfer documents to enable you start Making cash
withdrawals from your account same day the funds are Transferred. We have
waited for so long and we cannot Continue to wait.Thank you for giving us the
opportunity to serve your banking needs.

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Brian Moynihan (CEO)
Bank of America®
Email; boaheadquaters@usa.com
Phone: 713-510-0967
Corporate Office Headquarters, Charlotte, N.C.
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
© 2011 Bank of America Corporation. All rights
reserved. AR72768/DD6A66

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam