419 scam: "MRS JOAN OKAFOR"<hr@tccfd.gov.tw> RE:YOUR $1, 200,000.00 ATM CARD FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE

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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- jimwildept@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS JOAN OKAFOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimwildept@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 22:05:18 -0400
Subject: RE:YOUR $1, 200,000.00 ATM CARD FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE

Dear Beneficiary,

How are you? Hope all is well with you and your family? I know that you might have
forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake on the delivery up till
now. I am writing to inform you that your file was found in our office today and we
discovered that your Check of $1.2 Million united state dollars have not been sent to
you as it was instructed by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the fault
is from our former secretary who did not complete the instruction giving by our Boss. My
dear, Note that your Check has been converted into ATM Master Card to free it from
Expiring, We are hereby informing you that all the necessary arrangement for your ATM
MASTER CARD Payment worth of $1.2Million United State Dollars has been granted for your
payment last week.

Now Your ATM Master Card is well packaged with every legal document to convey it without
having any problem with any Authorities or with your Federal Government so we are here
by inviting you to our office so that we can complete the normal formalities and
activation process of your ATM CARD and issue the Secret pin code number to you to
enable you make withdrawal at any ATM MACHINE of your choice nearest to you, as soon as
it is activated. But if you cannot be able to come down here in our office in person be
inform that you are going to pay for the activation fee of your ATM MASTER CARD, so if
you are unable to come down here then you are required to update them with your contact
details as stated below so that they will proceed with the necessary arrangement for the
activation of your ATM MASTER CARD.

1. Your Full name, ________________
2. Your home Address, ______________
3. Your cell phone, _________________
4. Your home phone,_________________
5. Your age/sex, ____________________
6. Your occupation, __________________
7. Your country, ____________________
8. A copy of your ID, _______________

Therefore you should contact OUR ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTER Immediately on their
below information:

Contact Person : MR JIM WILFRED
Email : jimwildept@yahoo.co.jp

Try to call him immediately to know when your ATM CARD will be delivered to you. I am
waiting for you to update us as soon as you have received your Master ATM Card.

Thanks and God Bless You.

Yours sincerely,
MRS JOAN OKAFOR
Payment Approval Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam