419 scam: "Award Department" <info@atm.com> Confidential BUsiness Proposal!!!

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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mr.georgegregson5@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Award Department" <info@atm.com>
Reply-To: oceanic_atm99@admin.in.th
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 06:28:03 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: Confidential BUsiness Proposal!!!

Am George Gregson, Business Relations Manager for the Royal bank Of
Scotland (RBS) in Glasgow,Scoltland . I am getting in touch with you
regarding the estate of a deceased client with similar last name and an
investment placed under our banks management.

I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this email sent
to you very confidential and respect the integrity of the information you
come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently and no one
is informed of this communication.
In 2000, the subject matter, an American investor came to our bank to
engage in business discussions with our private banking division. He
informed us that he had a financial portfolio of $8.35 million United
States dollars, which he wished to have us invest on his behalf.
Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and
made attractive margins for our first months of operation, the accrued
profit and interest stood at this point at over 10 million United States
Dollars. In mid 2002, he instructed that the principal sum (8.35M) be
liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash
payments in London. We got in touch with a specialist bank in United
Kingdom, NatWest Bank Plc (NWB) London, United Kingdom who agreed to
receive this money for a fee and make cash available . However NatWest
Bank Plc got in touch with us last year that this money has not been
claimed. On further enquiries we found out that the American investor was
involved in an accident in Mainland Scotland, which means he died
intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is
because you share the same last name.
What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you
will be made the beneficiary of these funds. NatWest Bank Plc will
contact you informing you that money has been willed to you. On
verification, which will be the details I make available to Royal Bank Of
Scotland(RBS) and NatWest Bank Plc (NWB) will be instructed to make
payments to you after all the necessary verification and application is
done. You do not have to have known the American investor. I know this
might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your
troubles I propose that we split the money in half. In the banking circle
this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert
back to the state.
This is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and
as a British National we see so much cash and funds being re-assigned
daily. I would want us to keep communication for now strictly by the below
email address.

I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success
and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one truth
I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my
confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this.
Please get back to me immediately via the below email address.

I await your response
Mr George Gregson
mr.georgegregson5@gmail.com

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