419 scam: "Mr.Steven Morgan"<<>> (no subject)

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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:
- "certificate 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. )
- "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 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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atmvisacreditcard@gmail.com" (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.
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.
- +22964479200 (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.
- atmvisacreditcard@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Steven Morgan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmvisacreditcard@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2016 19:54:37 -0500
Subject:

RE: FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS

Dear ATM Visa Card owner:

My Name is Mr. James Mark the new manager of (IMF) International
monetary funds office here in Benin Republic. I am writing this mail
with deep sorrow as saw your name on the file last week as the one of
the most beneficiary which did not receive their fund compensation
valued US$10.5millon which was supposed to been delivery to you, so
after the board executives meeting yesterday it was concluded that
your total fund of US$10.5millon should be convert into ATM Visa Card
and I have done it today, so we went to the delivery company to
register your ATM Visa Card. all the necessary arrangement of
delivering your ATM Visa Card was made with DHL Courier Company Ltd
here in Cotonou Benin Republic,

So I'm very happy today because all the movement I made, every thing
goes normally. So only company that agree to carry on the delivery is
DHL Courier Company on one condition, as they found out that the Card
is not having insurance coverage on it, more I rush to insurance
company to check the cost of insurance coverage, which they check the
value of the money been loaded into debit card, which the cost of
insurance is $185.00usd,

Reason,for you the owner of the ATM Visa card loaded total sum of $10.5
million us dollars to pay $185.00usd is because we intend to deduct
the insurance coverage Certificate fee out from your total fund but
the Financial Trust Fund Committee of Benin Republic proof in
accordance to United Nation financial edits of 1990 as related to
international fund transfer policy as agreed with Benin Republic
Government that no one has right over your fund as it have been signed
and stamped that no money should be deducted from your fund until you
receive your ATM Visa card to avoid any Mal-practice in making
excessive deduction from your fund,

Your ATM Visa card is still with me as am talking with you right now,
so you have to send the insurance coverage fee immediately so that I
can move with insurance company to insure your card as soon as
possible, payment information below. Send the money through Western
Union or Money Gram immediately,

In addition, I am hereby giving your every guarantee and also 100 %
percent assurance that this is the only money you will pay payable and
after you pay it you will receive your ATM Visa Card and start
withdrew your fund immediately without any setback, so try to send
this fee today with the provided information below.

1. Receiver name:.............SAM NJOKU
2. Country:............. Benin Republic.
3. City :............... Cotonou.
4...Test question:....in God
5. Test answer:...... we trust
6..Amount ..........$185.00usd
MTCN :................
Sender's Name:........

For your information, you have to stop any further communication with
any other person (s) or office (s) to avoid any hitches in receiving
your payment. Because of Impostors, we hereby issued you our code of
conduct, which is (ATM-7750) so you have to indicate this code when
contacting the Card Center by using it as your subject.

Below attachment is my working ID,

Regards,
Mr.James Mark, I.M.F New Manager,
Email:atmvisacreditcard@gmail.com
Tell phone number: +229 64479200
>From International monetary funds,

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam