419 scam: "FBI Seattle Division"<info@fbigov.org> Notification of your funds Approval

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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "robert mueller" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cbnforeignoperation@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2348035520084 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FBI Seattle Division" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbnforeignoperation@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:24:21 +0100
Subject: Notification of your funds Approval

Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J. Edgar. Hoover Building,
Washington D.C
Telephone Number : (202) 984 - 0470

ATTN: BENEFICIARY

This is to Officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly completed and Investigated with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you are having a transaction with Impostors claiming to be officials of the Central Bank Of Nigeria.

During our Investigation, it came to our notice that the reason why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfilled your Financial Obligation given to you in respect of your Contract/Inheritance Payment from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

So therefore, we have contacted the Federal Ministry Of Finance on your behalf and they have brought a solution to your problem by coordinating your payment in the total amount of $1,500,000.00 ( One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) which has been creditted to File Number CN-TTX/0902R/08, You now have the lawful right to claim your funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria by contacting the Foreign Operation Department for the Transfer of your funds to either via Bank Wire Transfer or certified bank check.

Since the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Ministry Of Finance (Nigeria) has been involved in this transaction, you are now to be rest assured that this transaction is legitimate and completely risk-free as it is our duty to Protect and Serve citizens.

All you have to do is to contact the Foreign Operation Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria via E-mail for instructions on how to procure an Affidavit of Claims from the Federal High Court before the release or transfer of your funds can be made by the bank to you.

We have confirmed that the amount required to procure the Affidavit of Claims will cost you a total sum of $260.00 USD (Two Hundred and Sixty United State Dollars) which will be paid via Western Union Money Transfer / MoneyGram with the payment details that will be provided to you by the Foreign Operation Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Below, is the contact details of the Bank Official whom will process your transaction:

CONTACT INFORMATION

NAME: Michael Woodgate

Tel: +(234) 803 552 0084

EMAIL: cbnforeignoperation@yahoo.cn

You are to contact Mr. Michael Woodgate and provide him with the following information:

Your Name:
Contact Address:
Cell Number:
Telephone Number:
Age & Occupation:

Upon the receipt of your response to the Foerign Operation Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, you shall be provided with instructions on how to send the payment of $260.00 USD for the procurement of the Affidavit of Claims after which he will proceed with the transfer of your funds to you without no further delay, You have hereby been authorized/guaranteed by the Federal Bureau Of Investigation to commence towards completing this transaction, as there shall be NO delay once payment for the Affidavit of Claims has been made to the authorized office.

FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam