419 scam: "Mrs Abu David"<postmaster@pcnet.com> Dear Beneficiary,

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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "million us 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "ecobankatmdep@yahoo.fr" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "ecobankatmdepoffice@yahoo.com.hk" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
- +22966400990 (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.
- ecobankatmdep@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- bright telephone number; +229-664 009 90 e-mail: (ecobankatmdep@yahoo.fr) e-mail: (ecobankatmdepoffice@yahoo.com.hk) try to call him (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Abu David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecobankatmdepoffice@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:09:19 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,

Dear Beneficiary,

How are you? Hope all is well with you and your family? I know that you might have forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake on the delivery up till now. I am writing to inform you that your file was found in our office today and we discovered that your cheque of $4.5Million US dollars have not been sent to you as it was instructed by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the fault is from our former secretary who did not complete the instruction giving by our Boss. My dear, Note that your cheque has been converted into ATM Master/Visa Card to free it from expiring, we are hereby informing you that all the necessary arrangement for your ATM Master/Visa Card Payment worth of $4.5Million US Dollars has been granted for your payment last week.

Note your ATM Master/Visa Card is well packaged with every legal document covered it and normal formalities process without having any problem with any Authorities or with your Federal Government, so we are here by inviting you to our office for pick up and issue the Secret pin code/number to you to enable you make withdrawal at any ATM MACHINE WORLDWIDE nearest of your choice, as it's activated. But if you cannot be able to come down here in our office in person be inform that you are going to pay for delivery/shipping fee of your ATM Master/Visa Card, so if you are unable to come down here then you are required to update them with your contact details as stated below so that they will proceed with the necessary arrangement for the delivery of your ATM Master/Visa Card.

1. Your Full name: ________________
2. Your home Address: ______________
3. Your cell phone: _________________
4. Your home phone: _________________
5. Your age/sex: ____________________
6. Your occupation: _________________
7. Your country: ____________________
8. A copy of your ID: _______________

Therefore you should contact OUR ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTER immediately on their below information:

Contact Person; Mr. Tom Bright
Telephone Number; +229-664 009 90
E-mail: (ecobankatmdep@yahoo.fr)
E-mail: (ecobankatmdepoffice@yahoo.com.hk)

Try to call him immediately to know when your ATM CARD will be delivered to you. I am waiting for you to update us as soon as you have received your ATM Master/Visa Card.

Thanks and God Bless You.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Abu David, Finance Minister

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam