419 scam: office <office.file42@gmail.com> SPECIAL BONUS TO HELP YOU.

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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.
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.
- +22998644826 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: office <office.file42@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ww.mgtransfer01@workmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 06:08:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: SPECIAL BONUS TO HELP YOU.

             FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER MONEY GRAM INT'L.OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIQUE.
                       COMMISSIONER OF ROYAL EXCISE FINANCIAL AUTHORITY UNITY
                                  ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU
REF:( MG89TQ )


TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN..

ATTN:DEAR,

However,We are here to informed you that we are doing Bonus in this honourable office.And in the light of above,I am here to notify you that your first payment of $6500,has been dully programmed on the outgoing remittance diskette for onward wired to your designated address today date 01/11/2010.

Note that all the total amount is ($800,000.00usd):All the nesassary fee requested by the Headquarter has been paid this morning by the same INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (I.M.F)And there are (three) Document as they secure on your behalf which you may even tender to any authority in your country that may ask any question concerning the source of your fund.

Meanwhile the only money you are requird to send to this money gram office immediately is $95. ,just to activate your file and start sending your fund.But remember that after (5 DAYS) this Bonus will stop and cancel the payment for this year untill next year because this year is not last year,

Again after (this week) We will enter A new project for the year and that is the reason we decide to help all our customers before we enter the new project You are to contact us back.

SPECIAL BONUS TO HELP YOU.

KINDLY THINK THE BEST & GET TO US IMMEDIATELY,FOR URGENT COMPLETE THIS TRANSFER AT ONCE.

BELOW IS THE INFO TO SEND IT VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION:

RECEIVER,S NAME:...MR.NNAEMEKA LUKE.
DESITINATION:..COTONU BENIN REPUBLIQUE
TEXT ANSWER:..BLESS?
TEXT QUESTION:.YES.
MTCN:..............................................................
AMOUNT:..........................................95
SENDER NAME & ADDRES:...................

THANKS AS I,M SERIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVED THE MONEY TONIGHT,FOR URGENT START TRANSFERING YOUR FUNDS TO YOU WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.

                                       BEST REGARDS.


                            MR  SAM. WILLIAMS
                   DIRECTOR OF MONEY GRAM HEAD OFFICE
                  TEL: +229-98-644826. FAX:+229-97-764220

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam