419 scam: MONEY GRAM HEAD OFFICE <atsuhiko-gassan@ymail.plala.or.jp> ***FROM THE MONEYGRAM HEAD OFFICE**‏‏*

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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:
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
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 HEAD OFFICE <atsuhiko-gassan@ymail.plala.or.jp>
Reply-To: unitedbankforafricagroup@ymail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 21:50:16 +0900
Subject: ***FROM THE MONEYGRAM HEAD OFFICE**‏‏*

Dear Costumer:

This is Mr. Phil Williams from Money Gram Head office here in Benin Du Republic.

We are writing this letter this day Friday, March 27th, 2015 to inform you that we are ready for the transfer of your funds US$950,000.00 via the Money gram $5,000 payment each day. We presently send your first payment of $5000 this morning from our office, So kindly get back at us immediately. The reason why you did not received your fund in the previous years was as a result of restriction on high volume of foreign transfer by Federal Government of Benin that is reason why it was very difficult for us in the past to run a smooth transfer of your fund. But the good news is that, the restriction has been lifted recently and window of foreign transfer has opened again in the banking sector that is the main reason we open your transfer file. So in my kindness opinion, i will advise you to make use of this very opportunity at this moment.

1. Full Name ______
2. Country/Address ______
3. Phone/fax number ______
4. Age/Sex _______
5. Occupation ______

So we can do the normal procedure on your first $8000 payment which is activating the file to enable you can pickup your money at any Money Gram office around you.

Thanks and call me now for the processing.

Best Regards
Mr. Phil Williams
MoneyGram Head office BENIN Du REPUBLIC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam