419 scam: "MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC." <"www."@cyber.ocn.ne.jp> INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
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.
- +22998741619 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- sir.abebeselassie@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC." <"www."@cyber.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC." <sir.larryangelilli@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:54:57 +0900 (JST)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
Phone +229 98741619
Representative E-mail (sir.abebeselassie@gmail.com)

WARNING!! YOU ARE ADVICE TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL PASSWORD AFTER OR BEFORE READING THIS EMAIL FOR YOUR ACCOUNT SECURITY REASONS AGAINST HACKERS!

Attention dear valued beneficiary,

This is the second time we are sending this email to you regarding your funds worth ($US'1.6,million) and it will be the last time we will send this email to you as warning before cancellation of your funds payment.

The federal government United States under the power of the new president (DONALD TRUMP) has given us the last order to release your funds to you as a citizen.

Please notice 'We do not allow bank to bank transfer of funds because of the scam issue going on the internet,so your total funds have been converted to an ATM master card which you can be able to use withdrawing your cash anytime anywhere via available ATM cash withdrawal machine.

We do not ask people to send unnecessary money or fees for the delivery, not even the bank are to ask for some fees while you still never receive your card.
The only problem we have is for you to get the 'LETTER OF FUNDS CLEARANCE from Federal Ministry of Finance Office Benin Republic.
The documentation will need a highly recognized attorney by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT as your attorney representing on be-half of you.

The most important thing is the stamp fee of the Federal Ministry of Finance Department ( Dr. Mohamed Ahmed ) he must stamp and sign the certificate before any international fund could be possible to be released. The fee for the Federal Ministry of Finance Department stamp is $105.00 only.

The $105.00 is only fee you will ever send to receive your ATM card without any security stop or any delivery problems. If you can't pay the required fee then it means you will have to fly down here to our office by your self and pick your card without paying any money after signing the documentation by your self.

Yes of course, we know you have been receiving scam emails in your spam but make sure you don't contact any of them again because it might get your funds cancel as scam report and make sure you change your email password after reading this email and never you give your E-mail password to anybody on the internet.

Use this information below to make the payment via western union or money gram closest to you,
Receiver's name: Kelvin Micheal
Location: Benin Republic,
City: Cotonou
Amount to send: $105.00 only (DON'T SEND MORE THAN $105.00)

After making the payment then get back to me with the transfer payment receipt for confirmation before we proceed with your ATM card delivery.

If anybody ever charge you another fees after sending the $105.00,please don't try to send the fee without contacting us for confirmation,
thanks for your kind attention and remain blessed.

Regards'
IMF

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam