419 scam: Bank of America <barristernaobi@gmail.com> BREAKING NEWS

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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.

Fraud email example:

From: Bank of America <barristernaobi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ceejfax@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2023 00:33:17 -0700
Subject: BREAKING NEWS

*BANK OF AMERICA 100 NORTH TRYSON, CHARLOTTE,NORTH CAROLINA 28255,UNITED
STATE OF AMERICA Chief Operation And Technology OfficerBREAKING NEWS Your
Fund Transfer $35.5 MILLION, To your notice: US government on foreign/local
payment in its last meeting on January 3rd 2023 with the (CEO Mr. Brian
Moynihan) of BANK OF AMERICA gave a final approval for the immediate
payment of all the foreign contractors who for long executed their contract
in United State of America without receiving their contract payment.In view
of this present development, we wish to inform you that your contract fund
has been stated for immediate remittances but action is on your contract
payment following a change of account application filled in by one MR.
GILBERT MAC UMU with the new account details as follows:BANK NAME: WELLS
FARGO BANKBANK ADDRESS: 2190 WILLOW RD CONCORD CA 94521ACCOUNT NAME :
GILBERT MAC UMU BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 1984 WILSON COURT SOUTH BEND, IN 46628
USA.ACCOUNT NUMBER: 175760378 ROUTING NUMBER 121002488SWIFT CODE :
WFBIUS6SThis account information which was submitted by MR. GILBERT MAC
UMU did not come with VALID POWER OF ATTORNEY, it is this issue that
compelled me to contact you so as to receive confirmation from you on the
change of account. If this change of account was authorized by you, it has
to be written in company letter headed paper stamped and signed by you;
Reconfirming to me the following. 1. That the application for the change of
beneficiary was done with your consent.2. That the said fund should be
transferred into the above account. This has to be done immediately because
we will not entertain any enquiry from your so called agent who came to
this office demanding your contract payment by cashier cheque, telegraphic
transfer or certified bank draft: If in the alternative you did not permit
any body to effect such a change of account, authenticate your disapproval
to this office in your letter headed paper with all the contract and
account details clearly stated. This is to enable us avoid errors in
transferring of this fund. BANK OF AMERICA will not be held responsible
for any wrong information given to us. You are expected to contact this
office through this email: MSCatherineBessant1@outlook.com
<MSCatherineBessant1@outlook.com> and reply this message as soon as you
receive it.Yours Faithfully,MS. Catherine P. Bessant *

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam