419 scam: "FCO-GOV"<info@fco.gov.uk> PAYMENT NOTIFICATION {Date: 05/02/2010)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "ukgovdirect@5.am" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "FCO-GOV" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ukgovdirect@5.am>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 02:51:30 -1200
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION {Date: 05/02/2010)

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR CIVIL SERVICE,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.

Our ref: ACC/10070/IDR **
YOUR REF:CLAIMS/ATM/882
Date: 05/02/2010

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

This letter is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 4966430104864106) has been accredited with your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is 477.The VISA Card Value is £3,000,000.00(Three Million, Great British Pounds Sterling).

This office will send to you a Visa/ATM CARD that you will use to withdraw your funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTER or Visa card outlet in the world with a maximum of £5000 POUNDS STERLING daily. Further more,You will be required to re-confirm the following information to enable; The Rt Hon. David Miliband MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. begin in processing of your VISA CARD.

(1)Full names:
(2)Address:
(3)Country:
(4)Nationality:
(5)Phone #:
(6)Age:
(7)Occupation:

Forward Reply To: ukgovdirect@5.am

TAKE NOTICE: That you are warned to stop further communications with any other person(s) or office(s) different from the staff of the State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to avoid hitches in receiving your payment.

Regards,

FCO-GOV.
UNITED KINGDOM.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam