419 scam: Dr Michael George <vipmessage1@gmail.com> RE-ATM CARD APPROVAL

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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:
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +22996393693 (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.
- atmvisaintl02@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Michael George <vipmessage1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: atmvisaintl02@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:55:58 +0530 (IST)
Subject: RE-ATM CARD APPROVAL

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
01 BP 4209
Cotonou-Republic of Benin

Attention: Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Contract/Inheritance Files, And Found out that you are suppose to receive your Payment from this Authority before Now. The Reason 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.

we are very sorry for what you have been through, with those wrong offices. After the board meeting of the IMF and office of the finance ministry, However we wish to inform you that after thorough review of all contract and Inheritance unclaimed funds in conjunction with the World Bank and United Nations, it was agreed and decided to pay out all witheld approved payment, in which your email account appeared among the beneficiaries for the immediate transfer of your long delayed funds, starting with a first part transfer of US$2,500,000.00 through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card System.

We will also let you that the only fee which you will have to pay is the registration and delivery charges, pending on the company that will effect delivery. etc (FEDEX,UPS,DHL).

To receive your ATM Card, kindly make available

Your full name:................
Your Address:..................
Your Telephone Number..........
Your Age:......................

Your Valid ID card, Passport or Driving License For processing of your ATM Card and contact phone number for easy communication.Please note our ATM CARD system is swift card payment Asia pacific, 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 five Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars Per-Day.

Kindly inform us today by email which way you choose for the payment to enable us process the payment immediately , if you choose TT transfer then forward

your bank account co-ordinate immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Michael George

Tel: +229 96 39 36 93

Email: atmvisaintl02@yahoo.co.jp

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam