419 scam: "Bernard Byrne" <byrne.bernard@aib.co.uk> Treat As Confidential.

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- bernard.byne@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bernard Byrne" <byrne.bernard@aib.co.uk>
Reply-To: bernard.byne@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:13:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Treat As Confidential.

From: Bernard Byrne
Email: bernard.byne@hotmail.co.uk

My name is Bernard Byrne, The Chief Operating Officer of Allied Irish Bank
Group(Senior Security Specialist), working as part of a bigger team that
covers the entire region. It has taken pain and several detailed
researches to locate your contact details using the deceased’s last name.

On routine audit check last year, I discovered some investment accounts
that have been dormant for at least some years. All the accounts belong to
a single account holder, with monies totaling Nine Million Six Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars (US$9,600,000.00). Now banking
regulation/legislation in the United Kingdom demand that we notify the
fiscal authorities, after a certain statutory time span of which on expiry
of this time span dormant accounts of this type are called in by the
United Kingdom Monetary Regulatory bodies.

The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and proposing to
you. Our investigations reveal that the investor, a foreign national died
few years ago which was when the account was last operated. I can confirm
with certainty that the said investor died interstate and no next of kin
to his estate has been found or has come forward all these years.

I am of the settled convictions that using my insider leverage, working
with you, we can as a team secure the funds in the account for us instead
of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government
of the United Kingdom. This is possible as you share the same last
name/surname of the said investor. This is exactly why we crave your
participation and co-operation. We have some relevant documents (Banking)
that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary
of the funds and ultimately the transfer of the money to an account of
your choice.

We will leave out the further details of this transaction until we receive
an affirmation of your desire to participate. You can be rest assured that
we are on top of this situation all the time and there will be a no risk
whatsoever if you choose to come on board. Needless to say, utmost
confidentiality is of vital importance if we are to successfully reap the
immense benefits of this transaction.

Find my contact details above please do not hesitate to contact me.

I do expect your prompt response.

Kind Regards,

Bernard Byrne.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam