419 scam: "Mrs.Joyce A.Mbah" <officedept-----557@att.net> YOUR REF:CLAIMS/ATM/201

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +22998563471 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22998143842 (Benin, probably a 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.
- courierdhlbj@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Joyce A.Mbah" <officedept-----557@att.net>
Reply-To: courierdhlbj@hotmail.fr
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:53:10 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR REF:CLAIMS/ATM/201

Dear Friend.

YOUR REF:CLAIMS/ATM/201
This is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 4278763100030014) has been accredited in your favor.Your Personal Identification Number is 201.

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your loaded ATM CARD of $750.000.00 United States Dollars after the conclusion to pay you through ATM MASTER CARD.Moreso, you can withdraw in an ATM MACHINE in any part of the world and the maximum you can withdraw a day is $2,500,but I did not hear from you since then ,Then I went and deposited the package ATM CARD with Express Courier company ,Benin Republic as I traveled out of the country for a short Course and I will not come back till end march 2011.What you have to do now is to contact the DHL Express Courier Security company as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivering charges,and Clearance Certificate Fee of the ATM CARD showing that it is not a Drug Money nor to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country,The only money you will send to the Courier company to deliver your ATM CARD direct to your postal Address in your country is $105 Only being their Security Keeping Fees of the DHL Courier Company so far.

Again,Don't be deceive by anybody to pay any other money except $105 I would have paid that but they said no,because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact the DHL Express Courier Company manager for the delivery of your ATM CARD package with this information bellow.

HERE IS THE DHL COURIER COMPANY INFORMATION'S.
COURIER NAME: DHL COURIER COMPANY
CONTACT PERSON: DR.CLEMENT OBED
POSITION: FOREIGN DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.
E-MAIL:(courierdhlbj@hotmail.fr)
Tel:+229 98143842/+229-9856-3471

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your full name,your Postal address and your home address and direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address.Let me repeat again,try to contact them as soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fees of $105 only for their immediate action.

As a matter of facts,make sure as the rightful beneficiary of the ATM CARD package of $750,000.00,you must contact them by indicating the code (ATM/201) to enable them deliver the ATM package as they have it in their record.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Joyce A.Mbah
Acting Manager of Intercontinental Bank Plc

Anti-fraud resources:

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