419 scam: "Mr. Favor Michael" <test@mercier.fr> ATM Visa Card Department.

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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:
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "daniel_silver@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
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.
- +2348088656777 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Favor Michael" <test@mercier.fr>
Reply-To: <daniel_silver@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:42:40 +0100
Subject: ATM Visa Card Department.

ATM Visa Card Department.

Attn: Beneficiary

In respect to your long over-due fund which you have been finding it difficult to receive through a Bank Draft, Bank to Bank Wire Transfer and Western Union Installment Payment arrangements. A meeting was held last weekend on your behalf and others who have fund here in Nigeria as to the problem surrounding the Remittance of your fund, and after all deliberation, the Panel Agreement was to load your fund into a worldwide accessible ATM Visa Credit Card.

We have waited for you to get in contact with us for your ATM Visa Credit Card with the total sum of $2,500.000.00. (Two Million, Five hundred Thousand United State Dollars ), Which you can withdraw your Fund at any ATM Machine in your location Worldwide, with maximum daily limit amount of USD$15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars) Hence you are willing to claim your Winning Fund.

Note that the delivery charges of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD has already being paid, Apart from the Security Keeping Fee and insurance clearance, which can not be paid due to your delay in contacting this office for claim of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD Winning Fund. The Security Keeping Fee, together with the Insurance clearance Fee total amount is $320.00 USD and this is the only charges you are authorized to pay as there is no Hidden charges require for any reason, to have you ATM VISA CREDIT CARD completely insured and delivered to your residential address for daily withdrawal. All you need to do is to contact our Payment Security Department for details and guidelines on how to submit your Fees so as to facilitate the immediate release of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD for immediate delivery to you at your home address in your country without any delay.

Contact Mr. Daniel Silver directly for Guidelines on how to submit of your Security Keeping Fees and insurance clearance which is the total sum of $320 USD to him, to enable the Delivery of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD Winning Fund take place.

Mr. Daniel Silver.
Email: (daniel_silver@yahoo.cn)
Tel/Fax: +234-80-88-656-777.

Kindly re-confirm your details to him for verification, and make sure your residential address is provided correctly, to avoid any atom of mistake during delivery process of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD, so as to facilitate the immediate release of your ATM CARD immediately as soon as you comply with the requirement.

(1) Your Full Name ..................
(2) Full Residential Address.............
(3) Direct and Current Phone ...........
(4) Nationality ..........................
(5) Present Country ................
(6) Sex.......................
(7) Age....................
(8) Occupation.............

As soon as your details are submitted, you shall be advised accordingly by Mr. Daniel Silver on how you are to send down the fee which is $320 USD by giving you the cashier Officer Payment information which you are to use to get the fee paid directly to the Custom security Agency (CSA). Our ATM CODE of conduct is (ATM 101). Make sure you specify this Code on your subject when contacting our Security Department (Mr. Daniel Silver.) for delivery of your ATM VISA CREDIT CARD.

Your Safety is 100% Guaranteed.

Thanks for your maximum co-operation.

Mr. Favor Michael
ATM Visa Card Department.
International ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTRE.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam