419 scam: "Mr John Williams."<webcenter@gazeta.pl> From International Settlement Dept Bank.

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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atmdepachment@live.fr" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atmdepachment@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.
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.
- +22998292590 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr John Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office11@mail.mn>
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 16:27:56 +0100
Subject: From International Settlement Dept Bank.

>From International Settlement Dept Bank.
Oceanic bank international plc.
Tel: +229-9829-2590 /+229-9596-0761.
211,vitro Ave, Wete Akpakpa,
Cotonou,BeninRepublic.
Email;atmdepachment@live.fr

Attention:Beneficiary,

Good day,we are here to inform you of the new development, In Respect Of Your Total funds WhichYou Have Failed To Claim Because Of one thing or the other and ittook us time to confirm that your the right person that owns the fund.Note that this bank has been assigned to settle such debt by the Oceanic Bank Plc through ATM debit Card.

So We Wish To Bring To You Th Solution To This Problem. Right Now We Have Arranged YourPayment Through OurSwift Card Payment Centers, That Is The Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States(ECOWAS),which we concluded on Monday when we planing our independent.This Card Center Will be Send To You An ATM DEBIT Card Which You Will Use To Withdraw Your Money In Any ATM Machine In Any Part Of The World,So If You Like To Receive Your Fund In This Way, Please Let Us Know By Contacting Us Back And Also Send The Following Information As Listed Below.

1. Full Name
2. Phone And Fax Number
3. Address Were You Want The ATM Card To be Send
4. Your Age And Current Occupation
5. Attach Copy Of Your Identification for confirmation.

We Have Been Mandated By The ECOWAS Parliament To Issue Out USD$1.5m in your favour This fiscal year 2010. We Hereby Issued You Our Code Of Conduct, Which Is (ATM-202) So You Have To Indicate This Code When Contacting The Card Center By Using It As Your Subject.

Wait for your expedite response.
YOURS SINCERELY
Mr John Williams.
Chairman of the Committee.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam