419 scam: "ATM OFFICE"<info@office.com> ATTENTION.

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment 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.
- +2347033929295 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "ATM OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mackjohn1@8u8.tw>
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:18:02 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION.

From the Desk of: DR.Mack John,

Attention: This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract /inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your contract/inheritance payment.

Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with the none officials in the bank all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to you. We wish to advise you that such an illegal act like this have to stop if you wish to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTRE from Asia Pacific, that is the latest instruction from Mr. President, Good-luck Jonathan (GCFR) Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This card center will send you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is Twenty Thousand United States Dollars($20,000.00) per day. So if you like to receive your fund in this way, please let us know by contacting the ATM payment department and also send the following information as listed below:

1. Full name
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address were you want them to send the ATM card to (P.O. Box not acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation.

The ATM card payment center was mandated to issue out 11 million u.s dollars part payment for this fiscal year 2010/2011 to you so bear with us. Also for your information, you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that because of impostors, we hereby issued you our code of conduct, which is (ATM-9191) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the card center by using it as your subject. We anticipate your total compliance to this message immediately.

YOURS SINCERELY,
Dr.Mack John
FINANCIAL SECTOR SURVEILLANCE.
TELEPHONE:+2347033929295
Email: mackjohn1@8u8.tw

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam