419 scam: "Mrs. Linda John" <mrslindajohn127@gmail.com> Dear Valued Customer!!!

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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.
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.
- +22998911685 (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.
- moneygramoffice2134@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Linda John" <mrslindajohn127@gmail.com>
Reply-To: moneygramoffice2134@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2017 07:04:45 +0000
Subject: Dear Valued Customer!!!

Attention; My Dear,

this is contact email; moneygramoffice2134@gmail.com

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
$1.8Million Dollars via Money Gram by the United Nations Government
Office Republic Of Benin, But due you have not Reactivate your Name
together with the Money Gram Reference Number you cannot be able to
pick it up from Money Gram office until you have reactivate your name
with reference # Moreover, we have assert the cost for reactivation
and it will only cost you sum of $45.usd in other to reactivate your
money gram reference number sum of $5,000 usd sent yesterday OK, So
please kindly go ahead and send the fee via Money Gram Transfer Office
with the below name and address listed for the quickly release your
first payment of $5,000 usd today...for you understand before you will
pick up the your first payment of $5000 you have pay for activation
fee of $45 usd only to activate your name and your address in the
payment okay so urgent reply with the payment information such as MTCN
NUMBER of activation fee,before you will start pick up your first of
$5000 usd,today,

For the proof to you enter the (MTCN)
number # 61812992 to our
transfer tracking
website:(secure.money gram.com/track) Enter
sender's last name...sibata and click
tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to
pick up.but is cancel because we never activate to your name address
the into the payment that what make it cancel,So you have to go ahead
and send this activation fee of $45 usd today,

Here are the Money Gram or western union payment details..

Receivers Name; KING EZE
Country; Benin Republic
City; Cotonou
Text Question; Very?
Text Answer; Urgent.
Amount; $45 usd..
Senders Name & Address....
Reference #.........

We are looking forward to hear from you together with the Money Gram
Reference Number ASAP.

Thank you,

Best Regards,

Name: Mrs Linda John
email; moneygramoffice2134@gmail.com
Money Gram NOTICE: text or call this office for any question.::+229-98911685
MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER.A

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam