419 scam: "ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK $Foreign Operation Dept$" <info.departmoffice@gmail.com> Am sorry to tell you this if is not true.

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK $Foreign Operation Dept$" <info.departmoffice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 10:05:36 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Am sorry to tell you this if is not true.

Attention'''
Â
Am sorry to tell you this if is not true.
Â
We received an emails from a lady called, Rosemary Becky, she called us and the Washington custom office yesterday with this number tell: 8668623100Â again this morning and claimed that you are dead, she said that we should send her youâ€™re A.T.M card to her home address: 5890 s 6th st. watertown, wi 54324, Usa, because she is the next of kin to you, and you did tell her to be youâ€™re next of kin and claim your properties including your money in case you are nowhere to be found on earth. We required you reconfirm the following informations below so that he can deliver your ATM-Card to you today.

FULL NAME: ==================
COUNTRY:================
ADDRESS: ===============
MOBILE NO.:=============
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIR PORT:========
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :===============
Â
She did also said she knew she was going to pay $39 to get the A.T.M card because you told her something like that and I should let her know the information that she will use for the payment of $39,Â please let me know if this is true or not as am confused now and if we do not see your response within two days then we will know that is true and enrooted youâ€™re A.T.M card to her address?Â you have to contact the custom officier through phone +1 (206)4266305. because they requested that they will release your package in the next 2hours as soon as we confirm to them thatyou have send the requested fee. please send the money with the below information via western union or money gram only with the below information:

Senders Name:----
Recivers name:----Ikechi N. Enwereuzor
Country:--- Benin Republic
City:-- Cotonou
Question:----Who?
Answer:---Ikechi
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$39
Â
As soon as you send the money today, please you have to call me or you email me the MTCN, so that weÂ can get things done today without any further delay again. Please try all you can to see that you send this fee today without any further delay again.

Note: your Package is right at the Washington Dulles International Airportcustom office. without you dont send this fee to provide you the Final releasement Document for the releasement of your package this morning beenÂ 01/04/2011, your package will not be release and if you dont send the fee today, your Atm card will be hand over to the lady, and they will send the card to her by today. Please note that the delivery agent will be leaving to london by today for a proget. so try all you can to send this fee by today so that we can get every things done by today without any further delay again.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Peter.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam