419 scam: "ATM"<DREW123@earthlink.net> ATTENTION LUCKY BENEFICIARY....READ CAREFULLY!!!!

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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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 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.
- garybolar626@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ATM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <garybolar626@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 13:16:19 -0600
Subject: ATTENTION LUCKY BENEFICIARY....READ CAREFULLY!!!!

Attention: Dear Honorable Beneficiary.

This is to let you know that we have received an instruction from the United Nation by orders of the Ministry of Finance to release your approved payment of $1.2m United State dollars via United Bank For Africa ATM VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw your us$1.2million dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world. The UBA ( United Bank for Africa) have approved and issued your ATM VISA CARD in your favor. The amount upgraded in the ATM VISA CARD is us$1.2 million dollars and your secret pin number will be given to you once you receive the card from us,

Right now, invitation has been extended to you to visit United Bank for Africa for collection of your UBA ATM VISA CARD and pin number so that you can activate it by yourself and start withdrawing funds from any ATM machine in your country and the maximum withdrawal is $15,000 usd dollars per day from your VISA CARD.Alternatively, if you are unable to visit United Bank for Africa Republique du Benin for collection of this your UBA ATM VISA CARD and pin number, you must therefore pay for the delivery of your UBA ATM VISA CARD to be sent to you via our diplomatic courier service at your own expenses by offsetting the following payments such as:

1) Shipment fee of your UBA ATM VISA CARD to your address will cost $100 us Dollars}
2} Insurance coverage of your UBA ATM VISA CARD will also cost $165 us Dollars}
Total: $265 Dollars.}

Both payments is the sum of Total: $265 Dollars. must be paid to enable us ship the UBA ATM VISA CARD to your address to enable you start withdrawing your us$1.2million dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world. This UBA ATM VISA CARD must be insured so that it can get to you without any problem and diversion.

So if you cannot come to United Bank for Africa for the collection of your UBA ATM VISA CARD, you must therefore kindly go right now to western union /money gram or RIA transfer and send the shipment and insurance fee, Total: $265 dollars.

You are advised to use our PROTOCOL OFFICER'S NAME or details below and write your MTCN number down and your sender name bellow down the details:

Receiver's Name..Eoloko Festus
Country... Lagos Nigeria
Text question..When
Text answer...today
Amount Total: $265 usd Dollars.
Mtcn....
Sender...

Send the required payment imediately and provide your delivery address and a valid phone number.

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the UBA ATM VISA CARD to you and it will take only 2 days to arrive to your address to enable you start withdrawing funds that same day from any ATM Machine nearest to you. Thank you for your understanding and we are waiting for your quick reply and the payment information for the delivery of your UBA ATM VISA CARD.

Yours in service.
Mr. Gary Bolar, ATM Manager
United Bank for Africa
Email ( garybolar626@gmail.com )
United Bank for Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam