419 scam: "Vince Koker" <steriox@steriox.com.br> ATTENTION

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "courier service" (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)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22994354586 (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.
- atmmacard09@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Vince Koker" <steriox@steriox.com.br>
Reply-To: atmmacard09@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2016 20:55:56 -0300
Subject: ATTENTION

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)
Carrefour des trois Banques Avenue
Pape Jean Paul II, Cotonou, Benin
Phone Number: +229 94354586
BANK UBA GMD / CEO, Mr. Vince Koker
Email:(atmmacard09@gmail.com)
Urgent Attention Needed,

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 $19.5M USD via UBA BANK ATM VISA
CARD which you will use to withdraw your $19.5 Million Dollars from any
ATM Machine in any part of the world.

I must thank you and assure you that UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD number
5274-7836-4467-3648; has been approved and upgraded in your favor. The
amount upgraded in your ATM CARD is $19.5 Million Dollars and your secret
pin number will be giving to you later after you receive the ATM VISA CARD
to avoid hackers problem , Right now, Invitation have been extended to
you to visit UBA BANK Benin Republic for collection of your UBA BANK ATM
VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER so that you can start withdrawing your 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 UBA BANK Federal Republic of
Benin for collection of your UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD and PIN NUMBER, you
must therefore apply for the UBA 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 UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD to your address amount is
$150.00

2) Insurance Coverage of the UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD amount is $100.00.

Both payments totaling the sum of US$250.00 must be paid to enable us ship
the UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD to your address to enable you start withdrawing
your US$19.5 Million Dollars from any ATM machine in any part of the
world. This UBA BANK ATM VISA CARD must be insured so that it will deliver
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 afford to come down for the collection of your UBA BANK
ATM VISA CARD, you must therefore kindly go right now and send this
shipment and insurance fee of US$250.00 through Money Gram or western
Union transfer and we will receive it where in our bank, Contact the bank
for information of payment.

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the UBA BANK
ATM VISA CARD to you and it will take only 1 to two days to arrive to your
address to enable you start withdrawing funds the same day from any ATM
machine nearest to you.

Once you send the fee $250.00 try to furnish us with your full personal
information such as.

Your full name:
Living country:
Country origin:
Home and office Address:
Telephone and mobile Number:
Your nearest airport:
A copy of your picture and passport:
Age:
Sex:
Your occupation:

Thanks for your understanding as we are waiting for your quick reply with
the payment information.

Thanks.
Yours Faithfully,
Email:(atmmacard09@gmail.com)
Phone Number +229 94
BANK UBA GMD / CEO, Mr. Vince Koker
The Voices of Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam