419 scam: Stephen Bakken <rita.henry1965@gmail.com> THIS IS YOUR ATM VISA CARD.

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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "activation 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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
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.
- +22990091973 (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.
- centerdepartmentatmvisacard@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Stephen Bakken <rita.henry1965@gmail.com>
Reply-To: centerdepartmentatmvisacard@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 16:56:49 -0800
Subject: THIS IS YOUR ATM VISA CARD.

--
Attn:Dear Customer,

I have been planning on how to get things being in order to you.Right
now everything has been completed and this is to let you know that I
have finalized with the bank manager,to credit your ( $900,000.00USD )
to an ATM VISA CARD.So your inherited funds of ( $900,000.00USD ) has
been converted and credited to an ATM VISA CARD. This is to bring to
your notice that I have paid the re-activation fee and the delivery of
your ATM VISA CARD.

I paid it because the ATM Card worth of $900,000.00USD will expire
soon and when it expires, the whole money will go into Federal
Government treasury account in my country here,so because of that I
decided to help you pay off the money so that the ATM Card fund will
not expire, and Iâ€™m convinced that when you receive your ATM VISA Card
that you must pay me back all my money and even compensate me for
helping you.

Now I want you to contact the ATM card office with your home /office
address that you prefer for the delivery to be made so that they can
deliver your ATM Visa Card to your designated address in your country
without any delay. Like I stated earlier,The delivery charges has been
paid but I did not pay their official keeping fees because they
refused. They refused,the reason is that they do not know when you are
going to contact them and the demurrage might have increased. They
told me that their keeping fees is $25 per day,while I deposited it
this week Monday.

Below is the Contact Information of the ATM office, Contact Person:
Mr. William Betha Office Email: (
centerdepartmentatmvisacard@gmail.com ) Phone number: +229-900-919-73
Contact them today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me
know once you receive your ATM Visa card.

Thanks and remain bless
Best Regards.
Mr Stephen Bakken

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam