419 scam: "Ashley Varney" <mail@earthlink.net> Good day sir

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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. )
- "million 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)
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.
- +22968938284 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ashley Varney" <mail@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: <homelandashleyoffice@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:29:28 -0300
Subject: Good day sir

This is to inform you that we have sent your first payment of $5,000.00 (Five
Thousand dollars) through Money Gram as we have been given the mandate to
transfer your full compensation fund of $14,5000.000.Million Dollars via Money
Gram by
the United Nations Government. I called to give you the information through
phone but we could not reach you even this morning.So,I was instructed to
email
you the payment information which include Reference (Money Transfer Control
Number) and sender's name,so that you can pick up your payment of $5,000.00 to
enable us send another payment of $5,000.00 by tomorrow as you know we shall be
sending you only $5,000.00 per day. Please copy this payment information below
and go to any Money Gram office/outlet closer to you to receive this payment of
$5,000.00 and get back to us to send you another payment by tomorrow.

For the proof to you enter the (REFERENCE) number # 62662217 to our transfer
tracking website: (secure.moneygram.com/track) Enter sender's last name. Peter
and click tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to
pick up.

Reference: 62662217
Question= What Color
Answer= White
Amount Sent: $5000

Telephone Number +229-68938284
or email this office as soon as you have received this payment you can
also track your payment on line by login to ( https://secure.moneygram.com/track
before you go to any money gram transfer close to you to pick the money.

Fill
The Form Below

1.
Name
2.Address:
3.Country:
4. Phone Number:
5.Occupation:
6.Sex:
7.Age:

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY USA

Homeland Security US Department
Federal Government Office
300 7th St SW

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam