419 scam: "Mr. Alex Martins" <"www.w."@fine.ocn.ne.jp> Your First Payment Of $5,000 Is Available For You To Pick-up...

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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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "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.
- +22998098256 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Alex Martins" <"www.w."@fine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Alex Martins" <office19992@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 20:51:51 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your First Payment Of $5,000 Is Available For You To Pick-up...

This is to inform you that the America Embassy here in Benin in conjunction with Global Economic Recovery programs (GERP) USA and Economic Community of West-African States has instructed to transfer the sum of US$2,500.000.00, compensating all the SCAM VICTIMS and your email was found as one of the VICTIMS, By America security leading team and America representative officers so for your information the maximum amount you will be receiving starting from today is $5000 USD in two (2) different payments in a day till your total funds of US$2,500.000.00, is complete transferred to you and we have been instructed to send you the first payment of $5000 USD today through our payment system.

Be informed that the sum of Five thousand dollars $5000.00USD has already been sent to you via our Money Gram Transfer office as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full overdue payment, a total sum of US$2,500.000.00, via the Money Gram by the Ministry of Finance. I am contacting you to give you the necessary information to enable you pick up your funds as programmed, so Below here is your transfer information Copy the link to confirm.

As you know already that we will be sending you $5000.00 only per day until the total amount is fully transferred to you and it was agreed that you are to pay a total sum of $45.00 for renewing your transfer file so that the Payment will be in your Name before you are enabled to pick up your first payment at any agent location, do take note of this, that you are to pay the $45.00 before Going to any Money Gram office in your location to pick up the $5000.00 which is currently active and call me with this number (+229 98098256) as soon as you get this mail as the only Operation Manager in charge of your payment, contact me once you confirm the $5000.00USD Active today.

Below is the Money Gram information to pick up the $5000.00USD which you will be receiving daily after you send $45.00 in this office for the renewing of your file for the payment to be in your name Ok .NOTE: That you cannot pick up these funds without Renewing your file for the payment to be in your NAME because you cannot pick this money with this Name. Information to pick up your first payment of $5000 is listed below so make sure you get the needed $45 dollars send and your payment will be Available in your NAME.

(Track the REFERENCE track) by visiting::::::::: https://secure.moneygram.com/transactions/

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 17369582
Sender First Name: Elliott
Sender Last Name: Mazer
Question=when
Answer=Now
Amount Sent=USD$5,000.00

Your payment is ready to pick up at any agent location but you can't do that without changing the payment to your name and it will cost you only $45.00 I will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer payment of $45.00 today, and you are to make use Money Gram information below to send the $45 today.

RECEIVER' NAME: CHIGOZIE OBINECHE
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
AMOUNT: $45.00
ADDRESS: 105 ST,DUWA RD,AGBAGO

Regards
Mr. Alex Martins

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam