419 scam: "Enginner Thomas Bill." <debra.fritch@yahoo.com> ATM MASTER CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT

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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 payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "activation 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. )
- "required 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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.
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.
- +22999157393 (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.
- oceanicswifftcard@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Enginner Thomas Bill." <debra.fritch@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: oceanicswifftcard@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:34:54 -0400
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT

ATM MASTER CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
BENIN REPUBLIC BRANCH.
HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS: KM 12 BADARY ROAD
AWODE ROAD IDIROKO LAGOS NIGERIA REPUBLIC.
E_mail; oceanicswifftcard@yahoo.co.uk
+229-99-157-393. +229-99085224.
Atm Card Payments Unit Notification of payment by Atm Credit Card:

YOUR FUND IS BEEN DEPOSITED INTO CEANIC BANK AND I WILL INSTRUCTION YOU TO
TRY YOUR BEST TO CONTACT THEM IMMEDITELY TO ENABLE YOU RECEIVE YOUR ATM ARD
WITHIN 48HOURS AND the required data for the immediate release and
despatchment of your Atm Master Card to your location address in the States. I
am Enginner Thomas Bill.Integrated Payment Appointee Department Director, Atm
Payment Department Oceanic Bank Cotonu Benin Republic Incolloboration with
Nigeria Ecowas West Africa Organization,I Writes to inform you that your
e-mail application to this office for the immediate release/despatchment of
your Atm Master card was well received along with your details as required
from you for the immediate despatchment of your Atm Master Card to your
destination address were also noted.

Kindly fill the oceanic atm form which is attached and as well read the
instruction regarding on how to uses you atm card and the pin code when ever
you wish to withdraw money and as well kindly send the required fee of $65.usd
for the activation of your atm card and as soon as this card is been activated
it will be sent to you doorstep via our atm delivery conveyed team without you
paying any charge.Be rest assure that if you could abide to all this
instruction that you atm card and the pin code including the catalogs
regarding on how to use it will be sent to you within next 48 hours via our
affliated delivery conveyed team.

We are going to attach the Atm form for you to fill.It is the form that will
guide you on how you will be making use of the card.We will as well send you a
scanned copy of the card as soon as you return the form with the requred
reactivation fee of $65 USD.All these will come after we have confirmed the
payment information of $65 usd from you to enable this bank figure out plan
immediately on how to deliver your atm master card to your doorstep.

The payment is a must because if it is not made,it will lead to a problem
that you may not withstand as the document is very essential for the card
before you withraw your total money from it.That $65 USD is the only payment
you are going to make and it is for your own benefit but to maintain our
name.If you don't have the machine to fill the form with,you can write out the
information and send to us so that we can fill the form for you.

Bear it in mind that there is no way the money can be deducted from the card
because that is against the law of our country And it against the instruction
from (Wami Office).You are required to make the payment Today as the payment
is mandatory that will ensure that we process the activating of your atm card
immediately today and send the card to you within 48 hours as well reconfirm
your home address send the fee via western union money transfer with the name
of this our staff as outlined below:

Receiver Name: Mr. Obiedo Onyeka Francis
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Question: To where?
Answer: Benin.
Aomunt $65 USD.

Remember to send the payment details as soon as the payment is been completed
made today by you ok.

Faliure to hear from you, We shall divert and deposit your Atm Master Card
with the Governmental Security/ Financial Firm known as Trans-Security Firm
Benin. You can now call me on my private tel:Tel:+229-99085224.

NOTE: THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF CONDUCT,
WHICH IS (ATM822) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD
CENTER.ATM CARD PAYMENT FOR FUND BENEFICIARIES,

Your's in Service,
Enginner Thomas Bill.
Integrated Payment Appointee Department Director
Director, Atm Card Payment Department
Oceanic Bank Cotonou Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam