419 scam: Office File <offiffile@yahoo.com.ph> URGENT

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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. )
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: Office File <offiffile@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: mgramng@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:56:05 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: URGENT

Dear beneficiary
We have waited for weeks for you to send the $125 being for the activation of your file, but we have not heard from you. If you are doubting the existence of this fund then we must send to you the fund approved in your name so you will know that yes this is really legitimate.
Listen, like I stated that the EFCC, INTERPOLE AND CIA AGENTS in NIGERIA, knows about this, now the first $7000 has been in the system to be sent to you, therefore, all you need do is go to western or moneygram and send the activation fee now so we can start sending your fund to you.
Receivers name:.............OKEKE IJEOMA
Payout destination:.........LAGOS NIGERIA
Test question:..............WHO MADE YOU?
Answer:.....................GOD
Amount:.....................$125
Thank you
Jude Okoh
Moneygram management.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam