419 scam: Steven Grant <nao335@iris.ocn.ne.jp> INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT 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:

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:
- "anti-terrorist certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "sent to you via courier service" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- fileoffice61@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Steven Grant <nao335@iris.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Swift Atm Card Dept." <Fileoffice61@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2014 09:04:38 +0900 (JST)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

I am Steven Grant,World Bank representative in Benin and going by series of petition received from International Financial Agencies on the way your inheritance fund was handled by our correspondence office, after extensive close door meeting with Board of Directors and other Stakeholders in the Government, Subcommittees of the Federal Republic of Benin.

It has been resolved and agreed upon that your Inheritance Fund would be released to you on a special method of payment, which is SWIFT ATM CARD. This method of payment is designed by the Government to avert fraud perpetration or stoppage of fund by some Agencies either through Anti-Terrorist Certificate or other certificates and this swift atm card would be issued to you upon meeting the Bank Requirement.

Furthermore,this office has been mandated to take charge of the Issuance of the credit card, and your inheritance payment file should be passed to my desk for clarification upon certification that your file is OK. This Office would direct you on how to receive your overdue inheritance fund via SWIFT ATM CARD.

The card would be delivered to you via Courier service and in the light of this aforementioned, you are required to furnish this office with the following information if different from the one we already have:

Your Full Name........................................
Address:..............................................
Country of origin......................................
Occupation............................................
Your Next of Kin Name.................................
your date of Birth....................................
Your telephone number.................................
fax...................................................
Office address(if any)................................

This information would be used in opening of an account here and its from the account that the ATM Card would be used in the issuance of swift atm card in your favour with the card number and all your information inserted into the card, Upon completion of this issuance of the ATM Card it will be sent to you via Courier service to your residential address.

Kindly furnish this office with your contact information in order to reconfirm if its in line with the one contained in our payment data. Be informed that your fund has been called back and its now in suspended account here in our Bank and a new account will be opened in your name before the Card is issued.

Waiting for an urgent response via our office mail address: Fileoffice61@yahoo.com

Yours Faithfully,
Steven Grant
OPERATOR PAYING BANKERS
World Bank Representative Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

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