419 scam: "JOHN MICHEAL"<sales@tixhub.com> ABOUT YOUR MONEY

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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:
- "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. )
- "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 united state 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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN MICHEAL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jm324774@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2018 02:50:50 -0800
Subject: ABOUT YOUR MONEY

ATTENTION Dear Customer
From Money Gram Office

we sent you Email yesterday and no respond so now we do apologize for our late response. Secondly, I am Diplomat Agent Mr: John Micheal the Managing Director Money Gram Transfer office Benin Republic.

The transfer of your fund has commenced today with your first payment of $4,500,000 already sent as ordered by the Federal Ministry for Finance. What is required from you is $100 to activate your Money Gram Transfer code of all your transfers and this payment must be made to this office before the transfer information will be released for you to pick up your first payment.

Please you are advised to move to the Money Gram Transfer and effect payment for the activation fee of your MTCN immediately and start receiving your funds without delay. For security reasons, you are advised not to expose this or the total amount of money you are about to receive to people as you are only advised to move to any Money Gram Transfer in your area and make the needed payment or you can also send it through Western/Union or Ria Transfer to the information provided below and you shall receive the transfer information to pick your first payment within 3 hours today.

We shall be provided with necessary documents covering your funds with your transfer information as soon as your activation fee is confirmed paid over here as we are not allowed to release vital documents without receiving your fee and commencing the transfer. The $100 activation fee covers all the transfer of your full funds and you shall start receiving your funds from this office as soon as the payment is confirmed from you today.

The Federal Ministry of Finance also mandated that on no account shall any form of money be deducted from your total funds as it has to be receive in exact amount as it is recorded to avoid mistakes so you will be receiving $4,500 US Dollar daily until it completes the total amount of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($4.5 Million) as we have in our file here In addition, this is to let you know that $4,500 has been sent already as your first payment and the transfer information is kept on hold by this office and shall be released as soon as we hear from you.

To avoid delay on this transaction we have no time and you know that your funds has lasted for a very long time that given, to avoid transferring your funds into government account due to failure to comply. Hope you understand my point? So your urgent response is highly needed You are to send the fee with INFORMATION BELLOW.

First Name: Luc
Last Name: Okou
City:Poto Novo
Country:Benin

send me the payment slip that was given to you by the agent Money Gram or Western Union

i will show you that I am telling you the truth. Note the Total fund is $4.5 Million United State Dollars.

REGARDS

MR: JOHN MICHEAL MANAGING DIRECTOR
MONEY GRAM OFFICE

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam