419 scam: Mr Kevin Finnegan <jeraldclinton@live.com> Dear Valued Customer your ATM Card

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Kevin Finnegan <jeraldclinton@live.com>
Reply-To: u.p.s1@admin.in.th
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 20:05:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Valued Customer your ATM Card

United Parcel Service
80 Eighth Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10011
United States of America
(212) 627-8100
Fax: 212-865-9616

Attention Please,

We
are happy to inform you that Your package ATM Card with reference
number 44LF331 is inside one of the ENVELOPS which was posted through
Post Office Benin Republic to our facility custody here in New York
today.

This
is just to reduce the delivery cost for you.After the phone call we
made on your behalf to the USA Customs Authority and the Government of
Benin Republic, it was resolved that You should send the sum of $55.00
for clearance certificate to receive your ENVELOP from the UPS OFFICE
here in New York City. and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the
origination of the package in favor of Mr.Ekwealor Peter as our
accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the $55.00 through western
union once you receive this mail.

The
UPS OFFICER in your city will receive it first, drive down to your
house and deliver the Envelop to you home 's Address. As soon as you
send the $55.00 today, Tomorrow Morning the UPS OFFICE in your city
will receive the Envelop On Your Behalf and drive down to your
residential address without wasting any more time.

You
are advised to send a total sum of $55.00 via western union to the name
of Mr.Ekwealor Peter as our accountant officer in Benin Republic
below.

Receiv's Name/-----Ekwealor Peter
City/-------Cotonou
Country/-----Benin Republic
Test Question/------When?
Answer:/ -------Today
Amount/---------55
MTCN:.......................... (FILL AND SEND)
SENDER'S NAMES :.............( FILL AND SEND)

Please
forward the payment information immediately you send the $55 us
dollars,if you are not sending the payment for the to obtain the
Clearance Certificate, don't reply to this emailas this will only last
for (48 Hours) we are going to return the parcel back to the UPS OFFICE
Benin Republic After (48 Hours) The ATM Card Value is $900,000.00 (Nine
Hundred thousand United States Dollars)

I Wish You Good Luck
In Your Service
Respectfully yours,
Mr Kevin Finnegan

United Parcel Service

New York

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam