419 scam: MONEY GRAM <michelleobama627@gmail.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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "interatmcard@yahoo.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
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.
- +22997418863 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +22998801044 (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.
- interatmcard@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MONEY GRAM <michelleobama627@gmail.com>
Reply-To: monygramcb@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2018 07:58:23 -0800
Subject: Attention Beneficiary

U B A BANK PLC ATM WORLDWIDE SERVICES AND SOLUTION CENTER.
Head Office Address:574 Agboganu Road Dowa, Cotonou Benin.
Contact Email, interatmcard@yahoo.com
(+229 9741 8863)
Tel: +229 988 010 44
Fax: +229 1697 4273

24:Hours:
Monday To Sunday 8AMâ€“8PM

Attention: Dear;

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email and your
information, my name is Mr. Christ Omar managing director of U B A
Bank ATM Processing Unit, your payment of $10,500,000-00 was
released by the government of the Federal Republic of Benin through
the help of the United nations and it's ready to be paid to you
through ATM Visa Credit Card. We have been authorized to pay you this
amount by sending you our ATM Visa Credit Card fully loaded with your
payment of $10,500,000-00. The ATM Visa Credit Card will come
together with the Pin Code and you will be allow to withdraw a
maximum amount of $20,000-00 daily from any ATM machine in any part
of the world.

The United Nations has paid for all the necessary charges on your
behalf, meaning that you don't have to pay any bank charges for the
handling/processing to receive your fund anymore as you have met up
with the whole requirements; the only thing required from you is to
obtain LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED from the Federal Ministry of Justice
here in Benin Republic to enhance efficient and effective release and
sending of your ATM Visa Credit Card to you.

We are not asking you to pay us any fee as the United Nations and the
Federal Government has paid us for handling/processing of your
compensation payment. Our accredited attorney will help you obtain
the LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED with just ($85 Dollars) from the ministry
of justice for immediate sending of your ATM Card of (us$10,
500,000.00) Ten Million, Five hundred thousand United States dollars
to you.

Should you follow up our directives, your ATM Visa Credit Card will
be deliver to your address within two bank working days from the day
you obtain this LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED.

It will cost you only $85 USD to enable Our accredited attorney
obtain the LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED from the ministry of justice. You
are therefore advice to send the $85 Dollars to the information
listed below through Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram.

RECIEVER'S NAME: KLOTOE MARIA.
CITY:Cotonou
COUNTRY: Benin Republic
AMOUNT: $85DOLLARS
QUESTION: COLOR
ANSWER: GREEN

We are waiting your immediate response to enable this ATM Payment
Center proceeds immediately with the sending of your ATM Card to your
address and serve you better.

Yours faithfully;
Mr.Christ David Omar
Managing Director U B A Bank Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam