419 scam: "MR. ALEX MARTINS" <"www.money-gram.office."@cronos.ocn.ne.jp> Hello this is Alex Martins from Money Gram office here in US,Texas.

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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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: "MR. ALEX MARTINS" <"www.money-gram.office."@cronos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR. ALEX MARTINS" <officefili99900@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2017 01:27:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello this is Alex Martins from Money Gram office here in US,Texas.

Hello Dear The Beneficiary Please Attention,

This is to inform you that the USA and Economic Community has instructed to transfer the sum of US500,000 compensating all the SCAM VICTIMS and your email and phone number was found as one of the VICTIMS, By America security leading team and America representative officers so for your information the maximum amount you will be receiving starting from today is $15,000.00, $5000 limit times three which is $15,000 in a day till your total funds of US500,000 is complete transferred to you and we have been instructed to send you the first payment of $15,000 USD today through our payment system.

Be informed that the sum of $15,000.00USD has already been sent to you via our Money Gram Transfer office as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full overdue payment, a total sum of US500,000 via the Money Gram by the Ministry of Finance. I am contacting you to give you the necessary information to enable you pick up your funds as programmed, so Below here is your transfer information Copy the link to confirm.

https://secure.moneygram.com/transactions/

Money Transfer Control Number(REFERENCE)94575379
Sender First Name: Mark
Sender Last Name: Ambros
Amount Sent=USD$15,000.00

As you know already that we will be sending you $15,000.00 only per day until the total amount is fully transferred to you and it was agreed that you are to pay $150.00 for renewing your transfer files also divide the $15,000.00 into three part of payment so that the Payment will be in your Name before you are enabled to pick up your first payment at any agent location, do take note of this, that you are to pay the $150.00 before Going to any Money Gram office in your location to pick up the $15,000.00 which is currently active.

This is the opportunity for you to comply and your funds shall be transfer to your designated address. But remember that after (2 DAYS) you did not send the renewing fee of your transfer files then we will divert your funds to Government Account, So to avoid problems, you have to send the fee before 2days so that the transfer will be in your name. Again after (THREE DAYS) we will enter a new project for the Month so send the fee before we enter into the new project.

Your payment is ready to pick up at any agent location but you can't do that without divide it into three also changing the payment to your name and it will cost you only $150.00 and you are to make use Money Gram information below to send the $150 today.

RECEIVER NAME:= ELIZABETH FOMA
CITY:= US,TEXAS
AMOUNT:= $150

Also send the following information as listed below.

SENDER NAMES:=
REFERENCE NUMBER:=
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:=
CITY:=

I will be waiting to hear from you soonest.

Sincerely,
Mr Alex Martins.
Money Gram Managing Director Texas USA.
GOD BLESS AMERICAN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam