419 scam: "mr.stevebrandy" <"john."@woody.ocn.ne.jp> HAPPY SUNDAY

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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
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.
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.
- +22998855826 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "mr.stevebrandy" <"john."@woody.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "mr.stevebrandy" <mr.stevebrandy@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2017 18:58:26 +0900 (JST)
Subject: HAPPY SUNDAY

From: "DIRECTOR MONEY GRAM 02 BJ"
Reply-To: <>
Date: SUNDAY, 19 Feb 2017 16:28:54 -0800
Subject: ARE YOU (DEAD) OR (ALIVE)???

ARE YOU (DEAD) OR (ALIVE)???
DIRECTOR MONEY GRAM 02 BJ.
TEL: +229 98855826
DIRECTOR MONEY GRAM 02 BJ.

HAPPY SUNDAY

I am writing to confirm the fact if you are (DEAD) or (ALIVE) and failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr Howell Chris said was right that you are dead. Mr Howell has agreed to pay the needed charge fee valued of $100.00 dollars required for moneygram transacting charging Fee of your total funds, but we have not gotten the money from him yet as we want to find out if you are DEAD or not, so if you are still (ALIVE) you are advice in your own best interest to reply back, The only money you will pay to our office here is just $100.00 for charging fee, Take note of this now, so we can stop further communication with Mr Howell Chris and release your first payment, being the original benefactor of the $950.000.00 US Dollars.

BELOW IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $100 TO OUR CASHIER NAME THROUGH MONEY GRAM.

Receivers Name=====CHIDI OKORE
Country============Benin
State==============Cotonou
Text question=======When?
Text answers======= Now
Amount============$100.00usd
MTCN Number=======?

You must send us the details provided by Money gram immediately you made the payment of $100usd.

Senders Name=======
Sender Address======
Sender Country======
MTCN==============
Amount sent========

Beside if you fail to comply with the needed $100 Dollars required there$B!G(Bs no way we can release your first payment. Looking forward to hear from you if you are still ALIVE, reply back for fast action so that your transaction will commence upon receipt of your payment.

Best Regards,

MR.STEVE BRANDY
DIRECTOR MONEY GRAM 02 BJ. COMPANY BENIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam