419 scam: Mrs Karoline Gaho <"www."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp> Attention:

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
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.
- +22995754103 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Karoline Gaho <"www."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Karoline Gaho <moneygrammoneytransfer110@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2017 20:24:23 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention:

Attention:

This is an official notification of your United Nations (UN) compensation fund of $2,800,000.00 USD which is under the orders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as a part of our ongoing payment compensation scheme; The United nations in conjunction with money gram Money Transfer has put technicalities together to monitor local and international fund transfers to prevent internet fraud and compensate victims. Your first installment payment of $7,500.00 US Dollars through money gram is to be paid today.

For immediate payment and fund release information of your first installment which is a total sum of $7,500.00 you are required to contact this Director MR. Daniel Godwin via Telephone: +22995754103

And ensure you send him the below details;

Your Full Name......
Country.....
Occupation.....
Gender....
Marital status...
Telephone....

Also note that you are fixed on a daily installment payment of $7,500.00 until the payment of $2,800,000.00 USD is completed.

Acknowledge that you receive this payment alert by responding immediately.

Sincerely,
Mrs Karoline Gaho

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam