419 scam: "MR. MARK JAMES"<postmaster@intms.ru> 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:

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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +2348137233491
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.
- atmmaster_card778@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. MARK JAMES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmmaster_card778@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:10:54 -0800
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY,

HERBERT MACAULAY WAY,
WUSE ZONE 6,
ABUJA FCT,NIGERIA
EMAIL:atmmaster_card778@hotmail.com
PHONE NUMBER:+2348137233491

DEAR BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD HAS BEEN ISSUED AND FORWARDED TO MY DESK FOR ONWARD DELIVERY TO YOUR DESIGNATED ADDRESS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTIFY YOU ABOUT THE DISPATCH CHARGE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES OF YOUR VISA DEBIT CARD, THE DISPATCH COST VIA COURIER SERVICE IS US$198.THE CHEAPEST MEANS OF COURIER IS DHL COURIER.THEY WILL DELIVER IT IN U.S.A.
THE AFOREMENTIONED FEE WOULD BE SENT TO OUR ACCOUNT
DEPARTMENT OFFICER

NAME:EMMANUEL OBUNSO
ADDRESS:Herbert Macaulay Way,
Wuse Zone 6,
Abuja FCT.Nigeria
QUESTION: COLOUR
ANSWER: GREEN
MTCN NUMBER............

AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY, AS MATTER OF URGENCY FORWARD PAYMENT INFORMATION TO ME AS FOLLOWS,
FULL NAME AND ADDRESS OF SENDER, CITY MONEY IS SEND FROM AND MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBERS FOR EASY PICK UP.
BEAR IN MIND THAT THE VISA CARD WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS YOU SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE VIA SPECIAL DELIVERY SERVICE, BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF THE CARD AND SAFETY. SO IF THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN ADDRESS, KINDLY INFORM US TO AVOID DELIVERY TO A WRONG PLACE.
YOUR DEBIT CARD WILL BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD TO CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE FROM ANY ATM MACHINE USING YOUR PIN NUMBER. IN CONCLUSION, YOUR VISA DEBIT CARD WOULD BE SENT TO YOU UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR DISPATCH FEE.
NOTE: YOUR LIMIT OF WITHDRAWAL IS US$14,000.00 PER DAY.
HERE IS ONE OF TRACKING SHIPPING INFORMATION THAT WE SENT TO AMERICA.YOU CAN TRACK IT ON DHL WEBSITE WWW.DHL.COM AND SEE IT 2897275905 RECEIVER'S NAME WILLIAM FAIRCHILD.HE HAVE RECEIVE HIS ATM CARD.

REGARDS.
MR. MARK JAMES
ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
OCEANIC BANK HEAD QUARTER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam