419 scam: "Operator Manager, Larry Paul." <terry_hedges@yahoo.com> MONEY GRAM REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.

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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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +22997268138 (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.
- moneygramoffice159@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Operator Manager, Larry Paul." <terry_hedges@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: moneygramoffice159@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 00:20:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: MONEY GRAM REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.

MONEY GRAM REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
178 AVENUE PAPE JEAN PAUL II,
01 B.P. 2020, COTONOU REPUBLIC DU BENIN
TELEPHONE# +22997268138
E-mail: moneygramoffice159@yahoo.com

MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE OFFICE BONANZA 2012 AWARD.

Attention Beneficiary;

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS HERE IN PORTO-NOVO, THE CAPITAL STATE OF BENIN REPUBLIC, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO EFFECT YOUR PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $3,500.00 FROM YOUR TOTAL FUND OF ( SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FROM US$55.00 UPWARD OUT OF THE THE TOTAL FEE OF $255 FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED CHARGE, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHAT EVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE AND WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE FEE OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST $3,500. 00 ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE CHARGE WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE FEE, I WANT YOU TO SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.

PLEASE AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE AMOUNT YOU SEND LET US KNOW AND YOU CAN SEND US THE REFERENCE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE ACTIVATION FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECEIPT OF YOUR $3,500.00 AT THE SAME DAY.

1. RECEIVER NAME:............. OKEKE ELWIN CHRIS
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC
3. CITY :............... PORTO NOVO .
4. TEST QUESTION:....HONEST
5.TEST ANSWER:......TRUST.
6.REFERENCE NUMBER...........

MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE OFFICE.

You are entitle to receive your 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 payment immediately.

Sign.
Very best regards,
Operator Manager, Larry Paul.
+22997268138
Operator Money Gram
International Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam