419 scam: "MANAGER OFFICE HERE" <thomas1@director.biz> PAYMENT INFORMATION BELLOW

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +22967206750 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MANAGER OFFICE HERE" <thomas1@director.biz>
Reply-To: moneytransfer001@waterquan.com
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 16:14:52 +0800
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATION BELLOW

ATTENTION DEAR

THIS IS SEVERAL TIMES WE western union BENIN REPUBLIC ARE SENDING YOU THIS SAME EMAIL TO START TRANSFERRING YOUR PAYMENTS AND YOU CAN AT THE SAME TIME PICKING UP YOUR PAYMENT AS WE TOLD YOU BEFORE THIS INFORMATION REACH US SINCE LAST THREE WEEKS AGO FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ECO BANK MONEY GRAM, WHICH STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 28HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU START CASHING UP YOUR PAYMENTS WHICH YOU SHALL BE
RECEIVING IN THE RATE OF $5000:00 FROM YOUR TOTAL SUM $2,800,000.00 (TWO MILLION EIGTH HUNDRED AND THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) AS IT WILL BE TRANSFERRING TO YOU.

Dear I was able to send the money again, please take this money , i don't have anymore money to send if you let those robbers take advantage of you
again, I have tracked it on western union site and its available waiting for you The same Text Question and Answer. Check the Western Union Receipt i was
giving at western union. Amt :$5000 Please ask the lawyer for an extension , is not easy to raise that can of money over here, i am trying my best..love you honey,

SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE REQUIRED PAYMENT,WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM OF$125, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE, SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE THE REQUIRE SUM OF $125, SO GO AND SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE AT HAND STARTING FROM $85 TO UP $125, WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN AND SEND TO YOU TODAY, UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT,

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS.

SO, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND NOW WITH THIS INFORMATION BELLOW AND UPDATE US THE AMOUNT THAT YOU SEND AND THE MTCN.SEND THE PAYMENT DETAIL TO THIS EMAIL, (moneytransfer001@waterquan.com)

1.RECEIVER NAME...ALEX ANA
2.COUNTRY... BENIN REPUBLIC.
3.CITY... COTONOU.
4.TEST QUESTION...HONEST
5.ANSWER...TRUST.
6.ANY ……AMOUNT
MTCN=========
THIS LAST NOTICE TO YOU, IF YOU FAIL TO SEND THE MONEY TODAY YOUR PAYMENT FILE ILL BE CANCELED FINALLY. SO RUSH TO western union NOW AND SEND ANY MONEY THAT
YOU HAVE AT HAND NOW START FROM $85 UP TO $125, CALL ME ON THIS LINE AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY +229 6720-6750
Mr JAMES UBAH
OPERATION MANAGER.
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
PHONE NO:: +229 6720-6750

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam