419 scam: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK <deskofficiall@sify.com> VAT & YELLOW TAG FEE AND CLEARANCE DOCUMENT.

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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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. )
- "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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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 <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:02:07 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: VAT & YELLOW TAG FEE AND CLEARANCE DOCUMENT.

Attention Please.

We have receive your email, but there is no time to waist about this.
if this is not turth because this lady Mrs. Ruthy W. Granger has just
arrive to benin republic this morning again after we release her last
time, and we have put her to Jail, and right now you have to send us the
requested fee to send you your Atm card through D.F.D.C( DERY FAST
DELIVEY COMPANY). And this company dont need delivery charges, only what
they need is vat/ yellow tag fee and clearance document, which will
cost you only $40 only, and if you dont send the fee by today, you may
loose your Atm card and we will change the name on the Atm card and past
the lady Name to Mrs. Ruthy W. Granger. Please get back to us with the
requested fee today so that we can finishup every things by today
without any further delay again. Please if you dont respond today with
the payment details and your full details, we will relsae her today and
know that what she is saying is right. try to go through the picture and
get back to me now so that we can finishup every things without any
further delay today. More informations, please note that this fee will
be the last fee that you have to send and it will take care of every
things. Please comply now by sending us the requirement this morning so
that we can finalize every things by today without any further delay
again.

We will give you the contact of our officer over there to assist you
deposit the cash in a bank if you wish .as soon as you get this email
endeavor to western union or money gram the required $40 with the Below
details:

Senders Name:----

Recivers name:----Jona Uzoma Simple

Country:--- Benin Republic

City:-- Cotonou

Question:----What for?

Answer:---VAT

MTCN:--------

Amount:--$40

please confirm your alternative mailing address/ Direct telephone
number/Attachement of your Id card or International passport for the
dispatching also you are subject to pay the vat/ yellow tag fee and
clearance document. You need to Act very fast to avoid you loosing this
Atm card with the value amount on it. To enable the D.F.D ( DERY FAST
DELIVEY COMPANY) dispatch it as we do not entertain any more delay. you
are advice to send the money today so that they can deliver your Atm
card as soon as possible by first thing tomorrow morning. make sure that
you call us or you email us today for confirmation. Please note that as
soon as you send the requested fee today, you have to email us with the
MTCN/Payment slip.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Thank you!,

Yours ,

Mr. Peter Williams

Director Fund Recovery Atm Payment Department

Ecowas Subregion Benin Rep

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam