419 scam: "Mrs. Elizabeth Michael"<reservation@applegrup.com> Attention Beneficiary,

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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:
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22998173194 (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.
- offifund@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elizabeth Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <offifund@mail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 08:11:30 -0800
Subject: Attention Beneficiary,

Attention Beneficiary,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition.Let me start by introducing
myself I am Mrs. Elizabeth Michael, I was directed by the Republic of Benin Government to send you this email, It came to our notice that
you did business with some fake offices based on your Winning Corporation which later became a (SCAM) and you lost your money in the
event, Please we are very sorry for that.

Currently the Benin Government is paying so many people that the same thing happened to, before the fasting will be over, The Government has
agreed to compensate you with the sum of $3.6 Million as compensation to what has happened
to you.

We have arranged your payment through Moneygram telegraphic transfer,($24,000 00 Per day) so you are to contact the paying
department, for immediate release of your payment to you. Below is the Money Gram information’s.

Bank Name: Central Bank of West African States
Central bank of: West African Economic and Monetary Union
Bank Email ID:offifund@mail.com
Bank Telephone Number: +229 981-731-94
Branch Manager Name: Doctor Andy Lord.

You are advice to pay only $175.00 Dollars,for the transfer charges and anything more than that amount please, contact Dr.Andy Lord,

Fill in the below information’s and send to the Branch Manager Name:
Doctor Andy Lord.

1) Your full name
2) Your address
3) Your telephone number
4) Your Age:
5) Your Occupation:
6) Your Sex:

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Elizabeth Michael.
Attention Beneficiary,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam