419 scam: "Dr.Paul Mensah" <moneygram.ghanax@moneygram.com> TRANSFER UPDATE

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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. )
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: "Dr.Paul Mensah" <moneygram.ghanax@moneygram.com>
Reply-To: moneygram.ghanax@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:50:13 -0400
Subject: TRANSFER UPDATE

Moneygram-Instant Money Transfer,
TAMALE P.O. BOX 400 GHANA,
UPPER EAST REGION,400.

Dear Recipient,
This is to inform you that your confirmed US$22,500.00 that has
already been generated into 5 different Reference numbers of US$4,500.00
each in our database system awaiting for you to fill and return the Security
Validation Form with it's acknowledgment cost has limited days to stay
Valid and when this happen you will be ask for a Re-validation fee.

The said Security Validation Check Form was introduced after a
research on the MoneyGram database that some foreign recipients has been
sending money through MoneyGram in the course of getting one fund or the
other that is not real as claim by some incompetent and unscrupulous
persons they have been dealing with in the past.

Please note that if we didn't release this 5 reference numbers after the
Security Validation check form has been fill and return and along the line
we later came back to you for any other requirements or demands i advise
you to stop further communication with us and you can take any action.

Regards,
Dr.Paul Mensah,
Consultant,Moneygram-Instant Money Transfer Ghana.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam