419 scam: "Mr. Michael Collins" <smithume@gmail.com> Attention: fund owner,

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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:
- "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. )
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Collins" <smithume@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Michael Collins" <moneygram43@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:51:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention: fund owner,

Federal Republic of Benin West Africa.
Our Ref: ub / mf / b01 / vol 01
Attention: fund owner,

We here by notifying you that Uba bank plc have been mandated to issue out your payment of $ 2.1million usd through money gram money transfer. You have to stop further communication with any other person (s) or office (s) or ministry of finance Africa to avoid hitches in receiving your payment.

Uba bank manager have confirmed automation of your swift payment through an electronic money gram money transfer. The bank have arranged your payment through gram money center Asia pacific this transfer center will send you a money gram money payment information which you will use to pick up your money in any money gram office in the world. The maximum daily amount is $ 7,000 usd per day, till total of $ 2.1million usd received. Now you are to take care of your fund by contacting the money gram office today. This is a special
Arrangement in collaboration with united notion foreign transfer.

Send them the following information of yours for the conclusion of the delivery of your fund:

(1). Your full name,
(2). Your country,
(3). Your direct telephone numbers,
(4). Your direct office phone numbers,
(5). Mobile phone number,
(6). Your correct home address,
(7). Your current occupation,
(8). Your weekly / monthly income,
(9). Your age,
(10). Your next of kin name,

Contact Mr. Michael Collins with this information:

Mr. Michael Collins
Foreign payment department
Uba bank Benin republic
Tell: (00229 68151277)

Note that because of impostors the (Uba bank) hereby issued you our code of conduct which is (blue) so you have to indicate this code when contacting Mr. Michael on the transfer center by using it as your subject. Kindly notify (Uba bank) immediately to confirm the receipt of this massage from the Uba bank plc.

Head of wire trsf dept
(UBA Bank) Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam