419 scam: "Mrs.Donna Edwards" <johnpaul388@yahoo.cn> MONEY GRAM TRANSFER

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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:
- "moneygram" (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 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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22999161468 (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.
- moneygram49@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Donna Edwards" <johnpaul388@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: moneygram49@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 02:43:07 +0800 (CST)
Subject: MONEY GRAM TRANSFER

VITAL UNITED BANK OF AFRICA MONEY GRAM
TRANSFER
DEPARTMENT..LOCATION ADDRESS; PLOT 1261
ADEOLA HOPEWELL STREET
CO/B/REP
FROM DIRECTOR (DR.SULE ABOKI) IN MONEY GRAM!!!
TELEPHONE/
+229-991-614-68
HOME PHONE+229-963-547-64

Greeting To You Dear Beneficiary.
There is an issue with
the MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $2.500, 000.00USD (TWO Million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) directed in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118000/03, at the owner of this email address. The International
Monetary Fund contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to
your allocated security code. They said that they choose to send it to an email
address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an
email address, but the maximum amount you will be receiving every day starting
from tomorrow is $7,000.00 as reflected in our transfer system daily until the
funds is completely transferred to your address. so we require some more
information in order to complete this transfer.

FULL NAME:
.......................................
COUNTRY............................................
FULL
CONTACT ADDRESS: ............................................
MOBILE PHONE
NUMBER: ............................................
OCCUPATION:
............................................
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
............................................
TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER.
............................................
In order to resolve this
problem, please email us via Money Gram Solicitors
Fund Verification
Department: or you can call the Auditing manager of this Money Gram department
Rev.Carlos Amilo
on +229 68129734.As soon as this information is received ,he
verify your file and transfer your funds to you,

Your payment will be
made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from Our
Transferring Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA). When emailing, please use
reference number (250-153) as your subject for him to be sure that you are the
right beneficiary to receive this funds. (moneygram49@gmail.com)Remember that
your funds can be transfered to you via Wire transfer if you do not want to be
receiving it in the bage of $7000.00 daily as scheduled .

Sincerely,
Best Regard
MRS.DONNA EDWARDS
Costomercare of Money Gram Office
Benin
Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam