419 scam: =?utf-8?Q?Money=20Gram?= <timothysparks.mg@outlook.com> =?utf-8?Q?MONEY=20GRAM=2e=2e?=

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- "money.gramservices@cash4u.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +447509530182
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- lindamarie_blowers@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?Q?Money=20Gram?= <timothysparks.mg@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:07:27 +0200
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?MONEY=20GRAM=2e=2e?=

>From the desk of Mr. Tim Spark Acting General Manager Money Gram Headquarters BP 07, Zone Ambassador's U.K. CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN AND VERY URGENT! THIS IS YOUR FINAL NOTIFICATION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT OF US$2.5MILLION TO BE PAID OUT TO YOU AS YOUR COMPENSATION FUND: Attn: Beneficiary, I write to inform you that we have agreed and already sent you US$5,000 dollars through money gram as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of US$2.5Million, I called your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls now I decided to email you the REFERENCE NUMBER and senders name so that you will pick up the first payment US $5,000 today to enable us send another US$5,000 tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only US$5,000 per day. Below are the Three payment of difference sender's information. Tracking them on our website with this link,( https://secure.moneygram.com/track Sender/Remitente: REFERENCE NO: 69231415 Last Name: Ojadi US$5,000.00 You can verify the reference number in any Money Gram office near you or by tracking it on our website with this link,( https://secure.moneygram.com/track You have to re-confirm your details to avoid any wrong deposit: Full Name: Home Address : Phone Number: Country: Sex: Age: Occupation: ID Copy: Contact Information Contact Name: Linda Blowers (lindamarie_blowers@accountant.com) ( money.gramservices@cash4u.com ) Tel: +44 750 953 0182 Be informed that your funds was placed on Hold; thereby you can not 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. You are advised to know that this payment/prearrange reference number given to you are not registered or active for collection in any of your Money Gram branch office, We have tried our possible best to Indicate that this $290 should be deducted from your total funds, but we found out that the funds have already been deposited to the IMF and cannot be accessed by anyone apart from you, therefore you will be required to pay the required fee's to the agredited Agent in-charge, to obtain the needed Certificate. Receiver Name: Linda Blowers Country: London U.K Amount: $290 MTCN#........... SENDER'S NAME.... I wait to hear from you as soon as possible. Yours in Services, Mr. Tim Spark Remittance Manager, International Customer Relation Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam