419 scam: " Barrister Anderson J. Bernard" <contactis@yahoo.fr> Confirm your $2.8 M Payment Via Money Gram,

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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:
- "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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "money@mgram.tk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22998364993 (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.
- moneygram.benin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: " Barrister Anderson J. Bernard" <contactis@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: money@mgram.tk
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:16:05 +0800
Subject: Confirm your $2.8 M Payment Via Money Gram,

Attention: Beneficiary Email Owner,

This is to inform you that we have arranged your payment of
($2.800,000.00)Two million eight Hundred Thousand united state dollars
in ATM payment card on behalf of the Federal Republic of Benin
Government, Under the co-operation of the new civilian Head of State,
President DR BONI YAYI and the President of Central Bank Of West
African States [BCEAO]Mr Philippe-Henri Dacoury-Tabley held a meeting
last week concerning your payment, about your compensation funds.

You are listed and approved for this payments to be sent to you
through Money Gram money transfer payment. Your payment will be sent
to you by money gram, the amount you will receive per day is $5,000
The money gram director below will send you the current standards
track details you need to pick up your($5000.00) payment by Money
Gram, and you will receive $5,000.00 only everyday until you receive
the total sum of $2.800,000.00. The director administrator trust funds
have already signed your payment.

Kindly contact the below director who is in position to release your
payment by Money gram. Contact Person==Mr. Jim Bruce +229 98364993
Money Gram Money Transfer E-mail: (money@mgram.tk) The Money Gram
payment center has been mandated to issue out your payment and you
have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or
office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that
the administrator payment needs this details from you to process your
payment:

Receiver-----------------------
Country-----------------------
City---------------------------
Tel----------------------------
Test question------------------
Answer-----------------------
Passport No.------------------

You will require to send to him $295 for your fund clearance documents
papers before you will start receiving your fund. Note without the
$295 for your fund clearance documents papers there is no way he can
commence with your fund transfer.

Comply with Mr. Jim Bruce now because as soon as you send this
required details to him, he will start sending your payment by Money
Gram. Email: moneygram.benin@gmail.com

Best regards
Barrister Anderson J. Bernard.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam