419 scam: "ATM Manager," <jmcknight83@gmail.com> Dear Beneficiary ,

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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:
- "insurance 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 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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "zeneth_ban.k@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22999085224 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "ATM Manager," <jmcknight83@gmail.com>
Reply-To: zeneth_ban.k@live.fr
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 23:37:06 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary ,

Dear Beneficiary ,

This is to let you know that we have received an instruction from the United Nation by orders of the Ministry of Finance, Federal Republic of Benin to release your Approved payment of US$15.5 Million Dollars via SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw your US$15.5 Million Dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world.

I must thank you and assure you that SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD number 527 478364 4673648 748; has been approved and upgraded in your favor this morning. The amount upgraded in the ATM CARD is US$15.5 Million Dollars and your secret pin number is 1964, Right now, Invitation have been extended to you to visit SKY BANK Benin Republic to collection of your SKY BANK 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 but the amount you can withdraw in a day is $10,000,as we have programmed it.

Alternatively, if you are unable to visit SKY BANK Federal Republic of Benin for collection of this your SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER, you must therefore apply for the SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER 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 the SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD to your address amounting to US$29.00.
2) Insurance Coverage of the SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD amounting to USU S$20.00.

Both payments totaling the sum of US$49.00 must be paid to enable us ship the SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD to your address to enable you start withdrawing your US$15.5 Million Dollars from any ATM machine in any part of the world. This SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD must be insured so that it can get to you without any problem and diversion. This is because this ATM CARD that can be use to withdraw funds from any ATM Machine in every part of the world.

So, if you cannot come to SKY BANK of Federal Republic of Benin for collection of your SKY BANK ATM VISA CARD, you must therefore kindly go right now and send this shipment and insurance fee of US$49.00 via Western Union Money transfer or money gram transfer with the details below and write your MTCN number and your sender name bellow down;

Receiver's name..UZOR OKOYE
Country.. Benin Republic
City .. Cotonou
Text Question..WHEN
Text Answer..NOW
Amount $49 only
MTCN...
SENDER....

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the SKY BANK 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. Thanks for your understanding and waiting for your quick reply and the payment information.

Yours in service.

DR.RAPH BUTLER
ATM Manager,
SKY BANK Benin Republic
Phone +229 99085224
Email (zeneth_ban.k@live.fr)

Anti-fraud resources:

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