419 scam: "MRS. GRACE DAN" <webaqqqqjjjj001@att.net> ATTN CUSTOMER,

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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:
- ",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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "atm_dept02@w.cn" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_dept02@w.cn" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. GRACE DAN" <webaqqqqjjjj001@att.net>
Reply-To: atm_dept02@w.cn
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 04:38:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ATTN CUSTOMER,

ATTN CUSTOMER,

THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC REPUBLIC NIGERIA, WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR ATM CARD/NO 4083 0521 0020 7292 ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOR WITH CASH AMOUNT OF $2,500,000 ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT MRS. JOY O NWABIA AND SHE TOLD US TO CANCELED THE ATM CARD PAYMENT,BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE IT,SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON.YOU CAN CONTACT OUR MANAGER MR. PAUL D. AMAH ON THIS E-MAIL -ADDRESS atm_dept02@w.cn BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MRS. GRACE DAN.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam