419 scam: "Operator Manager, Larry Paul." <aaac172@gmail.com> MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "moneygramtransfer@avoe.ge" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "Operator Manager, Larry Paul." <aaac172@gmail.com>
Reply-To: moneygramtransfer@avoe.ge
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:00:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE

MONEY
GRAM REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
178 AVENUE PAPE JEAN PAUL II,
01 B.P.
2020, COTONOU
REPUBLIC DU BENIN
E-mail: moneygramtransfer@avoe.ge

MONEY
GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE OFFICE BONANZA 2011
AWARD.

Attention Beneficiary;

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS HERE IN PORTO-NOVO, THE CAPITAL STATE OF BENIN REPUBLIC,
STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO EFFECT YOUR PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF
YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $3,500.00. FROM YOUR
TOTAL FUND OF ( SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) SINCE YOU ARE
FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO
AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FROM US$39.00 UPWARD OUT OF THE THE TOTAL FEE
OF $299 FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE
REQUIRED CHARGE, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHAT EVER YOU HAVE
FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE AND WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER UPON RECEIPT
OF THIS PAYMENT.

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE FEE OF
YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST $3,500. 00 ALSO I AM USING THIS
MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE CHARGE WILL LEAVE US WITH
NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN
NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE FEE, I WANT YOU TO SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE
WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.

PLEASE ANY AMOUNT YOU SEND LET US KNOW AND
YOU CAN SEND US THE REFERENCE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND
IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECEIPT OF
YOUR $3,500.00. AT THE SAME DAY. REGARDS MRS JERRY BECKY, FROM MONEY
GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER
OFFICE PORTO-NOVO
BENIN REPUBLIC.

1. RECEIVER
NAME:............. Mr. Anekwe Emmanuel
Chukwukeli
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC
3. CITY
:............... PORTO NOVO .
4. TEST
QUESTION:....HONEST
5.TEST ANSWER:......TRUST.
6.REFERENCE
NUMBER..........

In
addition to this, we have decided to compensate our entire client due to their
inability to pay the requested fee from the authorities, the compensation
started this morning been 18th of August and it will end on 22th of August 2011
by reducing the high cost to low amount.

As the matter of fact, the
transferring fee and all cost requested from the authorities has been cut down
to any amount as you can afford and that is only money you have to pay to
receive your payment because the transferring of your fund were approved and
signed as well and we do contacted you today for your immediate attention over
it.

Note that anything that has the beginning is also has the end in
that case, first come first serve.

MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY
TRANSFER SERVICE OFFICE.

You are entitle to receive your payment today
if you do send the money today as well

We
are waiting to hear from you today with the fee to enable this department to
release your payment immediately.
Look forward for your anticipated
response.

Sign.
Very best regards,
Operator Manager, Larry Paul.
Operator Money
Gram
International Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam