419 scam: "MR. STEVE MALONE."<sky_xcourier@rediffmail.com> YOUR ATM VISA CARD IS READY FOR SHIPMENT,

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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:
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22999957967 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. STEVE MALONE." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <skyxcourier2012@rediffmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:07:07 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM VISA CARD IS READY FOR SHIPMENT,

HELLO MY DEAR,

THEIR IS GOOD NEWS TODAY, BECAUSE WE JUST RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM BARRISTER, WILLIAM SHORTER, TO CONTACT YOU TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE BARRISTER, WILLIAM Clark, LEFT THIS COUNTRY HE DEPOSITED an ATM VISA CARD OF (850,000.00) EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND USD WITH US, HOPING THAT YOU WILL CONTACT THIS COMPANY AND RECEIVED IT BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU BUT THERE WAS KNOW CONTACT FROM YOU.

THE GOOD NEWS TODAY IS THAT BARRISTER WILLIAM SHORTER, HAVE CONTACTED US BACK WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ASKING THIS COMPANY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN RESTLESSLY WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL.

ACTUALLY YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARY OF THE ATM VISA CARD, WITH ACCOUNT NUMBER: 2934 7078 1211 5993 (PIN CODE: 2398) AS IT WAS IN OUR RECORD, KINDLY FILL THE BELOW FORM AND REPLY BACK ASAP, CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU REPLY THIS MAIL TO ENABLE US ACT FAST.

RECONFIRM THIS BELOW INFORMATION BACK TO US.

YOUR FULL NAME:
Your age:
YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
Your current occupation:
YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Scan copy of your passport photograph

BARRISTER WILLIAM Clark, HAS PAID FOR THE DELIVERING CHARGES OF $475 UNITED STATE DOLLARS SINCE LAST YEAR, THE ONLY MONEY YOU HAVE TO PAY NOW IS THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE WHICH IS ONLY $121 US DOLLARS, AND YOU RECEIVED YOUR ATM VISA CARD, DON'T BE DECEIVED BY ANYBODY, SO RECONFIRM IN OTHER FOR YOU RECEIVED YOUR ATM VISA CARD.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU,CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU REPLY BACK THIS MAIL TO ENABLE US ACT FAST.

MR. STEVE MALONE.
Sky LINK COURIER SERVICE.
PHONE:+229-99957967

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam