419 scam: Office File <office.@violin.ocn.ne.jp> From Money Gram Head Office 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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "i will advice you " (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.
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.
- +22997674044 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Office File <office.@violin.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Office File <wum.transfredv00@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2016 21:40:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Money Gram Head Office Service

However, I wish to inform you that your first instalment payment of $5000 usd has been programmed into Money Gram database. You will confirm the transfer of $5000 usd made in your favour but the transfer was placed on hold pending due to inactivation of your transfer file.You will pickup the above first INSTALLMENT at any Money Gram Office around you as soon as the endorsement & activation file fee is paid. Be informed that the endorsement and activation fee can only be paid once and you will be receiving your payment daily in the amount of $5000 usd, until your full amount of $7.500,000.00 will be transfer complete.

This amount stated in our notice letter to you is an endorsement activation file fee for the transfer of your funds and also I am not in the position to make the first INSTALLMENT payment available for you to pick up as it is an instruction from the offices concerned that the activation file fee must be paid before the Money Gram Agent in your Country can be able to have access to the cash online to pay your first INSTALLMENT, also the only way that they will release the transferred funds is when your file has indicated the payment . I also want to assure you that you will receive the already transferred sum immediately we confirm the fee, but with out the authorization to effect release of payment to you from the Agency you can't get hold of the cash from your local Money Gram Agent in your Country, I will advice you to get the required activation file fee send today to enable the transfer funds be paid to you. Note that if you send the fee today you will equally start to receive your payment today once we have confirmed your payment.

Once the Activation file fee is been paid and this amount of $5,000.00 is picked up by you, then next transfer will take effect within 24hrs The endorsement & file activation fee will be sent to our office here in care to through Money Gram Office today and forward the payment information to us to enable us facilitate your transfer immediately.

1. RECEIVER FIRST NAME :======= STEVEN GBENUPO...... LAST NAME====WHESU
2. COUNTRY:==========BENIN REPUBLIC.
3.CITY:===============COTONOU
4. QUESTION=============SURE?
5. ANSWER:=============YES
6. AMOUNT:=============$98USD ONLY
7. MTCN=============

Sender's name: .........
As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer reference number to help us proceed with immediate release of your INSTALLMENT payment.

Notice: This payment was approved by the Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic to the above beneficiary name only If you have any additional comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us back.

Regards
MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER
Thank you for using our service
Phone: +22997674044

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam