419 scam: "Mr. ROBERT S. MUELLER." <beachbum02@verizon.net> 11, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF ROBERT S. M

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. ROBERT S. MUELLER." <beachbum02@verizon.net>
Reply-To: fbi119@w.cn
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 03:03:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: 11, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF ROBERT S. MUELLER.

11, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF ROBERT S. MUELLER.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF ROBERT S. MUELLER.

I RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM FEDEX EXPRESS SERVICE AND THE PRESENT U.S EMBASSY AMBASSADOR OF BENIN IN REGARD TO THE DELAYS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ALL THIS WHILE AND I WANT YOU TO ABIDE TO MY ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION SO EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE FAST TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT OF THE PACKAGE TO YOUR ADDRESS TODAY OR ELSE THE PACKAGE WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO THE FINANCE MINISTRY AND MARKED AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS.

YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD WHICH CONTAIN $20 MILLION USD AND THE 2ND CONTAIN A VERIFIED BANK OF AMERICA CASHIER CHECK WHICH CONTAIN $3 MILLION USD WITH ALL BACK UP DOCUMENT EVERYTHING WAS MADE IN YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THE PACKAGE INCLUDE AN INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO MAKE WITHDRAW WORLD WIDE AND ALSO CASH-OUT THE CHECK WITHIN 20 HOURS BECAUSE IT IS VERIFIED CASHIER CHECK.

THE CHARGE FEE REQUIRED WHICH IS THE LAST FEE IS $400 ONLY AND I WANT YOU TO TRY YOUR BEST AND GET A LOAN FROM A FRIEND OR RELATIVE AND YOU WILL PAY THEM BACK THE NEXT DAY REMEMBER TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTIAL FOR SECURITY REASON OK BECAUSE YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE AND ONLY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS DELIVERY.

YOUR PACKAGE WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOU TODAY BY 8:30PM THIS EVENING AND YOU NEED TO ABIDE TO THIS EMAIL INSTRUCTION TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT AND ONCE THIS IS DONE YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE AND RECOVER ALL YOU HAVE SPENT AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS ON MY CARE THIS TIME YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

USE THE INFORMATION OF MR ONWUKWE DAVID IKPAGO AN OFFICIAL AGENT TO THE U.S EMBASSY AND ALSO A U.S CITIZEN TO SEND THE CHARGE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION AND I WILL INSTRUCT HIM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE FAST AND SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE TODAY SO THIS TRANSACTION CAN COME TO AN END.

RECEIVER NAME: TOSAN MENE
ADDRESS: 12 EMBASSY STREET
Reciever Name: Mr. ONWUKWE DAVID IKPAGO.
Country: Benin Republic,
City: Cotonou
ZIP CODE: 00229
TEXT QUESTION: LAND OF
ANSWER: HOPE

AWAIT YOUR REPLY AND THE PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL

SENDER NAME:....?
MTCN NUMBER.....?

ROBERT S. MUELLER.
SENIOR OFFICE DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC

i
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its attachments may contain non-public, confidential or legally privileged information. The unlawful interception, use or disclosure of such information is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, or have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and delete all copies of this commu

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