419 scam: Bank of America <bhornstein@pathwaysboston.org> Attention Beneficiary Read and Respond Urgently

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: Bank of America <bhornstein@pathwaysboston.org>
Reply-To: banofamericaus@gmail.com
Date: 02 Apr 2017 17:49:12 -0700
Subject: Attention Beneficiary Read and Respond Urgently

Bank of America, Fund Transfer Unit
27599 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere, OH 44122, United States
Ref: BOA/US/OFT/012/17
Amount Sum: Us$5,500,000.00

Attention Beneficiary,

It is my modest obligation to write you this letter in regards to the authorization of your payment through our most respected financial institution Bank of America. I am Mr. Alfred Mac Rea, Head of Fund Transfer Unit Bank of America Ohio United States.

This is to let you know that the United Nations (UN) together with the U.S. Department of the Treasury has empowered Bank of America to settle all outstanding payments, Inheritance Funds and Lottery winnings Payments at this first quarter payment of the year 2017, in which your name is among the lucky beneficiaries that we receive their approved fund of US$5,500,000.00 through the method of Swift Electronic Wire Transfer into your designated bank Account or through Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

In accordance to this, you are advise to furnish us with the listed below information as to enable us process your approved Fund.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Home/Cell Phone:
4. Age and Marital Status:
5. Occupation:
6. Any Identification like Int'l Passport/Driver License.

Upon receipt of the above information, we shall begin the processing of your payment without any hitches.

We expect your urgent response to this email.

We thank you for your understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Alfred Mac Rea
Head of Fund Transfer Unit
Bank of America, Ohio United States of America

This is a confidential email and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform us immediately. You are not allowed to copy or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person Please note that there is a risk that information requested via email can be tampered with, by hackers while en route to your mailbox or seen by unauthenticated individuals if your mailbox security is inadequate E-Statements are your contribution towards a safer, cleaner environment. We thank you for contributing to the protection of our environment, do not print this mail.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam