419 scam: MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OFFICE <customkoa@yahoo.com> URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED FROM YOU

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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 advise 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.
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.

Fraud email example:

From: MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OFFICE <customkoa@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mpaymentoffice49@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 10:56:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED FROM YOU

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Welcome

FOREIGN OPERATION
MANAGER MONEY
GRAM INT'L.
OFFICE
BENIN
REPUBLIC
LOCATION. RUE BPH141

KINGSTON AVENUE
COTONOU
BENIN.
REF: MT89TQ
website... www.moneygram.com

ATTENTION DEAR BENEFICIARY ,

THIS
IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF BENIN REPUBLIC, HAS APROVED YOUR
INHERITANCE PAYMENT $800.000.00 USD TO BE PAID TO YOU VIA MONEY GRAM. YOU ARE
ADVISE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO ENABLE US TRANSFER YOUR FUND
ACCORDINGLY TO YOU.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THE SUM OF $87.00.00 USD TO
RECONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT FILE AND THIS WILL SERVE AS THE COST OF (S.V AND SIGNING)
YOUR PAYMENT FILE BY OUR LEGAL ATTORNEY TO ENABLE US SEND YOUR INHERITANCE
PAYMENT $9,500 USD AS IT IS ALLOWED TO SEND PER DAY. YOU SHOULD GET BACK TO THIS NOBLE OFFICE
WITH THE REQUIRED FEE $87.00.

REPLY BACK TO THIS OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED
AHEAD AND COMMENCE YOUR PAYMENT ONCE WE RECONFIRM YOUR PERSONAL FILE AS IT IS
LISTED BELOW AND SEND THE REQUESTED FEE $87.00 TODAY WITH THE INSTRUCTION
BELOW.

FULL NAME.................................
HOME
ADDRESS......................
PHONE............................
COUNTRY..........................
CITY....................................
SECRET
QUESTION.......
ANSWER........................ ....

USE THE
INFORMATION BELOW TO SEND THE REQUIRED FEE $87.00 VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION TO
ENABLE THIS DEPARTMENT HERE TO PICK UP THE PAYMENT AND RECONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT
FILE FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN
REPUBLIC.

RECEIVERS NAME::::::::::::::::UDEZUE JOSEPH
COUNTRY:::::::::::::::::::::::BENIN
REPUBLIC.
CITY:::::::::::::::::::::::::::COTONOU.
TEXT
QUESTION::::::::::: BE HONEST?
ANSWER:::::::::::::::::TRUST.
AMOUNT TO
SEND::::::::::$ 87.00 USD.

KINDLY, COMPLY WITH THIS INSTRUCTIONS AND BE
REST ASSURE THAT YOUR PAYMENT WILL COMMERCE IMMEDIATELY BY THIS OFFICE ONCE WE
CONCLUDE RECONFIRMING YOUR PAYMENT FILE FROM THE RIGHT OFFICE. WE ARE HERE TO
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND IMAGE OF THIS MONEYGRAM YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
DELAYING CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY COURSE YOU MISFORTUNE IN RECEIVING YOUR
FUND, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER SINCE THIS OFFICE IS MAKING ALL
NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT TO BE SURE THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEEN COMMENCE ONCE WE
CONFIRM THE REQUESTED PAYMENT AND INFORMATION.

URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED FROM YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR
PATRONAGE,
YOURS
SINCERELY,
MR. STEVEN
LONG
FOREIGN OPERATION
MANAGER
MONEY GRAM OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam