419 scam: MONEY GRAM <mw475817@gmail.com> ATTENTION:DEAR CUSTOMER

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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
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.
- +22969389623 (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.
- monygramcb@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MONEY GRAM <mw475817@gmail.com>
Reply-To: monygramcb@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2018 10:26:31 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION:DEAR CUSTOMER

ATTENTION:DEAR CUSTOMER,

PAY ANY AMOUNT FOR YOU TO PICKUP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT.

Call here Cell Phone;+229-69-38-96-23.immediately you receive this
email. Information reaching us from our corporate head quarters
now,states that you only have 48hours to effect payment for the
activation of your MTCN to enable you cash up your first $6,000:00
from your total (fund) since you are finding it difficult to make this
payment we have decided that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you
have for the activation fee since you are not able to come up with the
required sum, time is of the essence here. You are to pay what ever
you have for the activation fee; we will activate your MTCN upon
receipt of this payment.here is the payment for the $6,000:00 usd with
the name of our Assistant Accountant officer but you can not pick it
up because the chairman of the MONEY GRAM say that before you pick
that money you must pay anyamount you have at hand out of listed
Amount bellow,CONTACT ON ;(monygramcb@yahoo.com) Remember that you can
not pick it up the money due to it is on hold and you can also Track
it right now with our website www.moneygram.com before going to Money
Gram to send the transfer charge of any Amount you have at hand out of
listed mount.

Sender name:--------Dany Thomas
MTCN number:-------16934460
TEXT QUESTION ---------GOD?
TEXT ANSWER ----------BLESS
AMOUNT --------$6,000:00 USD

Be informed that you have to pay the balance sum of your activation
upon cashing up of your first $6,000:00 USD, also I am using this
medium to inform you that failure to pay the balance sum will leave us
with no option but to deactivate your MTCN of which you will and can
never cash up the balance sum I want you to send the renewing and
transfer fee with the information bellow. Your total amount of your
fund is $5.3Million USD. So use this name and Address of our
Accountant officer to send any Amount you have at hand out of listed
amount bellow,

Receiver name:...INNOCENT CHETA
Country:.........Benin Republic.
City :...........Cotonou
Test question:....when?
Test answer:.....Now
Sender name Address.....

Amount you Sent $100.00usd,$75.00usd,$60.00usd,$55.00 send it through
MONEY GRAM Or Western Union
send us the MTCN number immediately you send the money and immediately
we confirm the transfer fee we will send you the first receipt of your
$6,000 today and not tomorrow With best Regards contact this email
address;(monygramcb@yahoo.com) MR. C Y FRANK Money Gram office Benin
republic for your payment Cell Phone; +229-69-38-96-23.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam