419 scam: "Mr.Tony Johnson" <"www."@forest.ocn.ne.jp> WELCOME TO MONEY GRAM AWARD CENTER

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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 advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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: "Mr.Tony Johnson" <"www."@forest.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Tony Johnson" <ctonyjohnson@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2016 11:52:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WELCOME TO MONEY GRAM AWARD CENTER

WELCOME TO MONEY GRAM AWARD CENTER

SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE:OFFICE OF THE MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER.
BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 473 LEU, DE AKPAKPA ROAD COTONOU BENIN DU REPUBLIC.
Welcome to our Office GRAM AWARD CENTER,

ATTENTION DEAR CUSTOMER:

I am writing to inform you that we have sent $5000Usd via Money Gram
as we have been given the mandate to transfer your payment of the
total compensation of $125,000 United State Dollar via Money Gram. You
are to track the first payment with our website below to confirm the
availability of the below payment details:

To track simply follow the instructions,
click on the below website.
https://secure.moneygram.com/transactions/69231415/ojadi
Refrence :69078168
First Name : John
Last Name:Ojadi
Amount: $5000 USD
https://secure.moneygram.com/track/

Be informed that your funds Placed on Hold; thereby you cannot Pick
it up immediately due to an instruction from IMF Office (International
Monetary Fund) that you have to obtain the Fund Clearance Certificate
(FCC). This Certificate is to Bear you the Original Beneficiary of the
Fund and make a change of the Receiver to your Name, and this
Certificate will cost $150 only, which are to be paid by you the
beneficiary to make a documented change of Receiver to your name. The
total amount for everything is $150 we have tried our possible best to
Indicate that this $45 should be deducted from your total prize but we
found out that the funds have already been deposited to the IMF and
cannot be accessed by anyone
apart from you the winner,therefore you will be required to pay the
required fee's to the Agent in-charge of this Certificate.

You are advice to direct the payment via moneygram or western union
with bellow information.

Receiver Name........... SAMSON EDE
Country..................BENIN REPUBLIC,
City..................... COTONOU,
Text question............When
Text answer..............Now
Amount................$150
Mtcn ...............
Sender's name.....

Looking forward to receive the payment details to enable you start
receiving your payment on daily basis once
the Certificate is obtained on your behalf.

Regards in advance.
Mr.Tony Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam