419 scam: "U.S. Secretary of State" <test@spicebpo.in> ATM MasterCard Payment Release Update!!!

joewein.net

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- +2348020886462 (Nigeria, 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.
- allan.smith3@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S. Secretary of State" <test@spicebpo.in>
Reply-To: <allan.smith3@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:32:00 +0100
Subject: ATM MasterCard Payment Release Update!!!

U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE

2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520

D I P L O M A C Y I N A C T I O N

Attention: Unpaid Beneficiary

Ref.: ATM MasterCard Payment Release Update

I wish to use this medium and my office to inform you that your Contract/Inheritance Payment of US$10, 500,000.00 only from Central Bank Of Nigeria has been approved for onward release to you via ATM MasterCard which will be issued to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria as soon as you make contact with the Card Payment Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The United States Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria to issue the said ATM MasterCard in your name as soon as you send the required details to the Card Payment Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria immediately you receive this email.

CBN ATM MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT CONTACT DETAILS.

Name: Mr. Allan Smith

Office: ATM CARD DEPARTMENT

Phone No.: +234-802 088 6462

Email: allan.smith3@aol.com

NOTE: Inform Mr. Allan Smith that you received a message from Office of the U.S. Secretary of State to issue you the ATM MasterCard in your name.

Please make sure you send to him your details without any further delays.

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Finally, please bear in mind that you will have to take care of the Mailing, Insurance and Issuance Charges for the delivery of your ATM MasterCard to your address which will cost you about US$220.00; Most importantly, I will like you to understand that the charges cannot be deducted from your ATM MasterCard because it has been endorsed by Nigerian and American Government so do not expect them or even ask them to conduct any kind of deduction.

I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years as this office was obliged to intervene in this matter after receiving a notice from the logistics department of the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding the irregularities on the release of your funds to you.

Thanks for adhering strictly to these instructions and once again accept my congratulations.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton

U.S. Secretary of State

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam