419 scam: MONEY GRAM <officefile4581@yahoo.com.ph> FROM VIA MONEY GRAM OFFICE BONANZA 2011

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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:
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.

Fraud email example:

From: MONEY GRAM <officefile4581@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: www.moneygram1945@live.com
Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 12:12:51 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: FROM VIA MONEY GRAM OFFICE BONANZA 2011

OFFICE OF THE MONEY GRAM MONEY
TRANSFER.
COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,

ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS
COTONOU
Email;
(www.moneygram@cpll.cn)

Attention Beneficiary
funds,

After
our executive meeting yesterday with our board of directors, We come into
conclusion that your inheritance fund of $3,500.000.00(three million five
hundred thousand United State Dollars) should be only transfer through our MONEY
GRAM TRANSFER OFFICE.

In addition
to this, We have decided to give all our customers November bonanza starting
from today till 8th of this month by reducing the transfer rate from the big
amount to small amount.

As the matter of fact, the transfer fee has been
reduced from the total amount to $57.00 and that is only fee you can pay to
receive your daily payment of $10,000.00 because the payment was approved on
Saturday and we do contacted you today for your immediate attention over
it.
Note that anything that has the beginning is also has the end in that
case, first come first serve.
Below is the payment information to send the
money via Money Gram office.

MONEY GRAM BONANZA
2011

Receicer's Nanme::::
Gabriel Augustine
Country::::Benin Republic.
City::::Cotonou
Zip
Code:::00229
Question:::Very?
Answer::::Urgent.
Amount::::$57.00
Ref:::::::::::::::

You are entitle to receive your first payment today if you
do send the money today as well

We are waiting to hear from you
today with the fee to enable this department to release your fund
immediately.

Looking
forward for your anticipated
response.

Very best
regards,
Dir, Mr. Ezeh
Williams.
Operator Money Gram Money
transfer
International Benin
Republic.
signed

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam