419 scam: "MR. MICHAEL TOM" <Officewww.@aqua.ocn.ne.jp> YOUR PAYMENT IS READY.

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:

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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- ",000,000" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (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.
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.
- +22962852722 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. MICHAEL TOM" <Officewww.@aqua.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR. MICHAEL TOM" <z101usman@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2018 07:22:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY.

Be inform that We have been authorized by the United Nations Debt
Reconciliation Unit,to release your approved compensation and Award of
US$2,500,000 ( TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS )However, for security reasons, your compensation funds of USD2,500,000,000 has been loaded in ATM MASTER CARD and this will enable only you to have direct control over your funds. You are advice to contact our director of ATM CARD Payment Center MR. MICHAEL TOM and request him to send your ATM CARD to you.

Contact him through the below stated informations and forward your
personal details to him.

Contact Person: MR. MICHAEL TOM.
ATM CARD DEPARTMENT.
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.
PHONE # +229-62852722.

REMEMBER TO SEND HIM YOUR FULL INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BELOW TO AVOID
WRONGFUL DELIVERY,

1. Your Full Name:____
2. Address:____
3. Age:____
4. Occupation:____
5. Telephone Numbers:____
6. Country:____

NOTE: that the amount to be paid to you is ($2.5 million USD) we expect
your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor the payment
effectively.

Best Regards
Yours Sincerely,
Maureen Perry.
Finance Department Director
International Monetary Fund-IMF.
# 700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20431 USA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam