419 scam: "P.BISCHOFF" <westernumtcustom@sify.com> WHAT IS GOING ON?

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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:
- "money gram" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.
- +22997764220 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "P.BISCHOFF" <westernumtcustom@sify.com>
Reply-To: w.mgtransfer@blumail.org
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:53:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: WHAT IS GOING ON?

             FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER MONEY GRAM INT'L.OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIQUE.

                       COMMISSIONER OF ROYAL EXCISE FINANCIAL AUTHORITY UNITY

                     ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU
CONTACT US WITH THIS EMAIL
PRIVATE E-MAIL :( w.mgtransfer@blumail.org )
REF:( MG89TQ )


TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

ATTN:BENEFICIRY;

WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON?

NOTE THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT HAVE ALREADY SENT ON YOUR NAME SINCE 4 DAYS NOW,& YOU ARE ADVICE TO SEND THE STAMP FEE OF $78.00 TO ENABLE YOU PICK UP YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY,& CONTINUE RECEIVING $4,500.00 EVERY DAY UNTILL YOUR TOTAL FUNDS HAVE PAY TO YOU COMPLETE OK.

LISTEN,& LISTEN VERY GOOD,NOTE THAT THE $78.00 IS THE ONLY THING DELAYING YOU TO PICK UP THIS YOUR PAYMENT,BUT IF YOU KEEP DELAYING YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE CANNCEL & SUSPEND.

BELOW IS THE INFO YOU CAN USE TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST WITHDRAWL FIRST,IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE NEEDED $78.00.

SENDER S NAME:MGBATA AMECHI
MTCN:11224512
QUESTION: BLESS
ANSWER: YES
AMOUNT: $4,500.00 US DOOLAR
SENDER ADDRESS: 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU

BELOW IS THE INFO TO SEND $78.00 TODAY VIA MONEY GRAM:

RECEIVER,S NAME:...MR.MGBATA AMECHI.
DESITINATION:..COTONU BENIN REPUBLIQUE
TEXT ANSWER:..HOW LONG?
TEXT QUESTION:.WITHIN A DAY.
MTCN:.............................................................
AMOUNT:......................................................
SENDER NAME & ADDRES:...................

THANKS AS I,M SERIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVED THE MONEY TODAY,FOR URGENT START TRANSFERING YOUR FUNDS TO YOU THE SAME TODAY OK.CONTACT US WITH THIS EMAIL OKAY
                                                             INTERNATIONAL DEPT PAYMENT OFFICE(I.D.P.O)
                                                                      PRIVATE E-MAIL :( w.mgtransfer@blumail.org )

                                                            BEST REGARDS.
                                                    MR.ROBERT P.BISCHOFF
                                DIRECTOR OF MONEY GRAM HEAD OFFICE
                                                            TEL:+229-97764220

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam