419 scam: "GREGCOLLINS" <GREGC194@GMAIL.COM> PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- +2348056421641 (Nigeria, 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.
- gregcollins61@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "GREGCOLLINS" <GREGC194@GMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: gregcollins61@GMAIL.COM
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:41:31 -0400
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

From Mr. Ben Ibru,
Public Relation Officer,
Central Bank of Nigeria.

Attention: Sir/Madam,

I wish to use this medium to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
Payment of USD$10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred thousand United States
Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for
onward Transfer to you via an ATM CARD, which you shall use to withdraw the
USD$10.5M in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in your country or in any part of the
world, But the maximum you can withdraw from the card on a daily basis is
USD$10,500.00 only.

We have mandated the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB), to send you the ATM
CARD and PIN NUMBER. You are therefore advice to contact the Head of ATM
CARD Department of African Development Bank in Nigeria via the belowed
information for the release of the card to you.

Contact Person: GREG COLLINS
Position; Director Foreign Operation Dept
E-mail: gregcollins61@gmail.com
Phone: +2348056421641

While contacting Mr. Greg, you should forward your details such as your Full
Name, Your mailing address for receiving the card and your telephone number
for his confirmation.

Once again, we are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the
past Years while pursuing your funds, and we assure you that you shall be
receiving your funds now once you follow the directives given to you.

Anticipating your adherance to the instruction herein, and do accept our
Congratulations in advance.

Best Regards
MR Ben Ibru
from Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam