419 scam: "ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK $Foreign Operation Dept$" <info.departmoffice@gmail.com> YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR STEP WITHIN 3HOURS.

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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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
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: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:47:48 +0100 (BST)
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR STEP WITHIN 3HOURS.

ATTEN PLEASE.

WHAT YOU ARE TALKING IS RIGHT, TODAY WE WILL HELD A MEETING WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FINANCIAL BANK CONCERNING TO THIS EFFECT BY 9AM, THE PERSON INCHARGE OF YOUR ATM CARD, WE PREFER WESTERN UNION TO SEND THE MONEY, FOR IMMEDAITE PICKUP , AND THIS FEE IS $40 AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE EVERY THINGS./ DELIVERY AND DC CLEARANCE DOCUMENT . PLEASE NOTE THAT 2 LADIES CAME TO OUR OFFICE THIS MORNING WHEN WE WERE HELDING A METTING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CLAIM THAT YOU ARE DEAD THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND YOUR ATM CARD AND WE REFUSE THAT THEY ARE IN THE POLICE CUSTUDY NOW. SO YOU HAVE TO COMPLY NOW SO THAT WE CAN FINISHUP THIS BY TODAY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY AGAIN. YOU ARE ADVICE TO SEND THE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION ONLY WITH THE BELOW DETAILS.

SENDERS NAME: ..........
RECEIVERS NAME: IKECHI N. ENWEREUZOR
TEXT QUESTION: WHAT FOR?
ANSWER: DC.
DESTINATION COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
AMOUNT: $40
MTCN:..............

I PROMISE YOU THAT AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS MONEY TODAY, YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DESTINATION ADDRESS WITHIN 3HOURS COUNTING FROM THE TIME WE RECEIVE THE MONEY. PLEASE KINDLY RECONFIRM US YOUR FULL DETAILS AND DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN STICK IT TO OUR RECORD TODAY, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE MONEY ON TIME TODAY SO THAT WE CAN SEND YOUR ATM CARD DIRECTLY TO YOU DESTINATION ADDRESS ON TIME TODAY AFTER THE MEETTING. SEND US THE MTCN/PAYMENT DETAILS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY AGAIN AS SOON AS YOU SEND US THE MONEY TODAY. PLEASE CALL AGENT NAME: PAUL GEORGE. TELE: +1 206-426-6305. Fax: +1 206-426-6017, HE WILL ATTENT TO YOU FOR THE DELIVERY THIS MORNING.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FINANCIAL BANK CONCERNING YOUR ATM CARD TODAY HELD A MEETTING, YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR STEP WITHIN 3HOURS BY THE PERSON INCHARGE OF YOUR ATM CARD BY TODAY, YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DESTINATION ADDRESS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS SOON AS YOU SEND THIS MONEY TODAY WITHIN 3HOURS, YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR STEP. PLEASE CALL ME AS SOON AS THE MONEY IS SENT OR YOU WRITE ME AN EMAIL WITH THE PAYMENT DETAILS BY TODAY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY AGAIN.
I HAVE CONTACTED OUR OFFICE FOR YOUR PIN NUMBER AND I HAVE THE DOCUMENT AND THE ASSURRANCE THAT IF YOU SEND THIS MONEY TODAY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEND ANY MORE MONEY AGAIN.

WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

BEST REGARDS
MR. PETER WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam