419 scam: "Mr. Steven Bota"<ogaziaamaka@btconnect.com> Re:PAYMENT VIA INTERNATIONAL MASTER CARD

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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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 advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "gm_mst.card.opert.mandate@mcom.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348089039865 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- botamrsteven@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Steven Bota" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <botamrsteven@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:22:40 +0100
Subject: Re:PAYMENT VIA INTERNATIONAL MASTER CARD

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC ORIENTATION ON CONTRACT PAYMENT.
CANADA- OFFICE.
TEL/FAX: 12252089312

EMAIL:botamrsteven@gmail.com
6-03-2010

RE:PAYMENT VIA INTERNATIONAL MASTER CARD
Sir,

I write to inform you that the federal government of Nigeria has approved a new device of payment of all foreign contractors residing in the different continent.

First and foremost, I have to apologize to your esteemed personality, concerning what you have gone through in the hands of some sacked government official who has collected huge amount of money from you in pretence that they will help or rlease your contract/inheritance fund which never came, but only for them to use the money you paid, for their selfish interest by trying to divert your legitimate contract fund to another account, which was discovered by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission that was attached to our office in monitoring all foreign contract payments.

With due respect Sir; Government has mandated the authorities involved to make sure they did not relent in their effort in getting all the people involved in this ugly trend.
Your payment has been programmed via INTERNATIONAL MASTER CARD. You are advice to contact below, the only office in charge of issuance and delivery of your card. You are to pay to them only $665usd for accreditation and delivery fee.

Office of Mr. Kevin Idris, General Manager,
Master Card Operation Mandate(M.C.O.M.UnderPresidency)
Abuja Central District Head Office..
email:Gm_mst.card.opert.mandate@mcom.com
Tel: +2348089039865

You are advice to contact us via the number or email above for update. You are meant to receive your contract/ inheritance within 5 workdays.

Regards,

Mr.Steven Bota.
Public information bureau. (Information)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam