419 scam: "Mr.Thomas Chukwu" <mikeoffice699@yahoo.pt> BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION,

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Thomas Chukwu" <mikeoffice699@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mr.Thomas Chukwu" <bank.america2015@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:30:41 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION,

BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION,Co-Chief Operating Officer Of Bank of America100 North Tryon StreetCharlotte, North Carolina, 28202 U.S.RE/NO: 002-BOA/0047/2013Founded: 1928,
Transfer Release Update.
Attention; DearÂ
On behalf of the entire staff of the Bank of America, The Management of the Bank of America Corporate Office Headquarters here in Charlotte NC, wishes to inform you that after a brief meeting held by the Co-Chief Operating Officer Of Bank of America on the 8th Day of October 2014, we deem it appropriate to intimate you that your funds will be transferred into Mrs. Annette Cang bank account as the true beneficiary of this Fund if you failed to send the required fee,
According to the record we got from our payment Office due to your inability to complete the transaction and your failure to meet up with a payment obligation. The actual transfer of your funds US$2.5 Million into Mrs. Annette Cang account comes up next 2 days. because Mrs. Annette Cang agreed to pay any fees regards to this transaction,
The United States Insurance Policy fee is mandatory for any transfer of funds here in the USA involving amounts above $1,000,000.00 ( One million USD ).The amount to be transferred into your account is US $2.5 Million Â and is far above $1 Million. This is why the $39 fee is required and the fee cannot be deducted from source in accordance with section 3 subsection 2( a ) of the Huge Funds Transfer Regulation Act HFTRA of 2001 promulgated by law after the terrorist attack on our dear country,
Meanwhile, note that this is the only fees that you will bear the cost and your approval funds sum of US$36.5 Million ( Thirty Six Million Five hundred thousand Dollars ) will transfer to you without any delays, and will are doing Auditing for the year 2014, so we want your funds US$2.5 Million to be transferred into your nominated bank account the same day we receive this fees from you,
We are doing banking Auditing for the year 2014, so we advise you to treat as matter of urgency and try as much as possible you can to raise and come up with the fees of $39 dollars for ( Fund Legality Certificate and Bulk Money Transfer Permit Certificate ) and send it to Bank of America Accountant Officer in Benin as the funds origin/Cashier Office within 72 hours you receive this email, so that we can transfer your Funds into your bank account before closing for the day, We are doing banking Auditing for the year 2014 and all unclaimed fund will be cancel and send back to Mrs. Annette Cang account as true beneficiary of this funds,
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 Fund Legality Certificate and Bulk Money Transfer Permit Certificate to complete the wire transfer,
The fee to obtain the Fund Legality Certificate and Bulk Money Transfer Permit Certificate was reduced from $995 to $39 and no other fee is involved. You are required to send the fee of $39 by WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM to the Bank of America Accountant Officer/Cashier Office where your transaction originated as stated below,
PAYMENT INFORMATION:
RECEIVERS NAME: ======= Onyebochi UdenkaADDRESS: ========== Cotonou BeninQUESTION: === ======= OKÂ ANSWER: === ======== YESAMOUNT to send: === $39Sender's name and Full Sender's Address: ===MTCN Number.......
If we receive the MTCN today, we will transfer your funds US$2.5 Million Five hundred thousand Dollars ) 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,
Meanwhile, a woman came to this bank a few days ago with a letter claiming to be your true representative and she agreed to pay the charges. Here is her information below,
Bank of America2075 S. Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93003Acct. name: Mrs. Annette CangType: CheckingAccount# 003767127294Routing # 063100277
Failing to reply this email and pay the required fee of $39 urgently we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. Annette Cang if we do not hear from you within the next 3 hours from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of your fund must have caused you,
I need your urgent reply and congratulations,NB: THIS TRANSACTION IS BEING MONITORED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO GUARDS US FOR INTERNET IMPOSTORS,
Mr.Thomas ChukwuCo-chief Operating Officer,Â Bank of America Office North Carolina

Anti-fraud resources:

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