419 scam: thomasxxxxxxxxjames@test.com LETTER FROM UNITED BANK OF AFRICA.

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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:
- "million 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- thomasxxxxxxxxjames@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: thomasxxxxxxxxjames@test.com
Reply-To: thomasxxxxxxxxjames@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 04:43:36 -0600
Subject: LETTER FROM UNITED BANK OF AFRICA.

UNITED BANK OF AFRICA. FINANCIAL REGULATION COMPUTER DEPARTMENT +234-808-17=
0-2865. Attn.Beneficiary, Dear Sir, It is very important you get back to me=
very quickly for a detailed brief on an ongoing plot to steal your contrac=
t inheritance fund of $7.8 million dollars under a false report that you ar=
e dead. A Billionaire from Saudi Arabia has been lured to believe you are d=
ead, and he has forwarded an application and the processing is currently be=
ing pursued vigorously with his influence, money and connections. As I writ=
e, all approvals, charges and taxes associated with the processing and rele=
ase of this fund to Post Finance Bank account in Bern Switzerland has been =
completed. So, you MUST stop deflate this move by immediately writing the p=
aying authority that you are still alive and well as against the lies told =
by the Saudi Billionaire and his cohorts. Do not doubt this information nor=
treat it with despise. You will get to know more about this upon your resp=
onse because I shall give you all available hidden information as far as I =
know. I await your urgent reaction to this so I can give you details and th=
e right office to contact in order to swiftly foil this fraud. Thanks. Thom=
as James. Director telex Department. thomasxxxxxxxxjames@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam