419 scam: office domain <domainoffice660@yahoo.pt> I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU IF THIS IS TRUE?

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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:

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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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: office domain <domainoffice660@yahoo.pt>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:00:42 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU IF THIS IS TRUE?

I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU IF THIS IS TRUE?

I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU IF THIS IS TRUE? I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MR JAMES WHITE ,HE CALLED US YESTERDAY WITH THIS TELEPHONE NUMBER:8668623101 INFORMING ME THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND HE SAID THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO CHANGE YOUR FILE NAME FROM YOUR PAYMENT FILE TO HIS NAME AND TRANSFER YOUR $1.5M. TO HIM, BECAUSE HE IS YOUR NEXT OF KIN BENEFICIARY TO YOU, AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT YOU INSTRUCTED HIM TO CLAIM YOUR PROPERTIES INCLUDING YOUR FUND BECAUSE YOU ARE NO MORE TO BE FOUND ON EARTH.

I AM VERY SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE NO MORE TO BE FOUND ON EARTH AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE NOT REPLY THE EMAIL I SENT TO YOU SINCE,THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU THAT I AM GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FUND IS BEEING TRANSFER TO HIM AS YOUR NEXT OF KIN BENEFICIAL TO YOU MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE AND MAY GOD GRANT YOU INTERNAL LIFE ON THE LAST DAY TO COME I AM VERY VERY SORRY IF THIS IS TRUE.

HE DID SAID HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO SEND SOME MONEY FOR THE TRANSFER TO GET YOUR FUND TO HIM BECAUSE YOU TOLD HIM SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND I SHOULD LET HIM KNOW THE COST WHICH IS $85.00 ONLY,

BUT I TOLD HIM TO HOLD ON AND LET ME VERIFY IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT BECAUSE I AM CONFUSED NOW ABOUT THIS CLAIMS' YOU ARE ADVICE TO REPLY BACK TO US WITH THE FEE, IF THIS IS NOT TRUE BUT IF IT IS TRUE THAT YOU ARE DEAD STILL NO WHERE TO BE FOUND ON EARTH MEANS WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM YOU , THEN WE ARE GOING TO KEEP ON WAITING FOR YOU TILL TOMORROW THEN FAIL TO HEAR FROM YOU THEN WE WILL CHANGE YOUR PAYMENT FILE TO HIS NAME TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO HIM AS YOUR BENEFICIAL.

HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS[jamescomeyfb1_d1rector2013_aug4@outlook.com]

SO IF YOU STILL ALIVE THEN FEEL FREE TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THE REQUIRED FEE $85.00 USD US DOLLARS TODAY SO THAT BY TOMORROW,I WILL TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO YOU AS AGREED,BELOW HERE ARE THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE $85.00 USD DOLLARS THROUGH WESTERN UNION,

Receiver:Â Buchinna Ezeorah
Country Cotonou;..................Benin Republic.
Address:..................; No 113 Togba Road,Cotonou Benin
Test Question:.................. A
Answer: ............ Z
Amount: $85 only
Sender's Name: ............
MTCN Number: ..............

I will be waiting for your positive response with the payment information's. Any delay from your side regarding this payment exercise will be resolved for the next quarter payment that will be coming . So you are advised to add here to our instructions so as to enable us serve you better.

Best Regards,
FBI Director
James Comey

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam