419 scam: "Mr. GODWIN EMEFIELE" <office_offic@yahoo.com.ph> FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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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. )
- "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. )
- ",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)
- "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.
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 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.
- fbi.cebeninrepiblic66@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. GODWIN EMEFIELE" <office_offic@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: fbi.cebeninrepiblic66@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 17:18:54 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

THIS IS THE (F.B.I)
http://www.fbi.gov/
FBI Headquarters in Washington,
D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover
Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C.
20535-0001
FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner
My Id
Contact: fbi.cebeninrepiblic66@yahoo.com
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

Attn:
Account Holder

This the Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) This is to
notify you that a new development has been made by today in which the Benin Republic
Bank which is called First City Monument Bank (FCMB) which has been holding your
funds all this while has been ordered to release it to you.

The bank has
created an online bank account on your behalf and the online bank account has
been funded with the total sum of $1,500,000.00 USD in which you would be able
to withdraw any amount of money daily from the online account.

Below is
the online bank account details

Welcome! To - FCMBank Online Plc Secure Account
Page

Account Name

Account Type

Activate

Online Banking
Account

Created Opened

Account Balance

2010-09-17

$1,500,000,00 USD

Account Number

FCMB Sort Code

00169381103-43371

1022-03-8733

Country

Name Of bank

International Money
Transfer

Input

Swift Code
PNBPUS33
Account Number 1010169857507

The bank has also stated that you could be able to
start accessing the online bank account once the transfer code has been issued
to you and this code will be issued to you at the sum of $97
Usd.

The bank has also
directed that the payment should be sent through Western Union Money Transfer or
Money Gram Transfer with the below details.

Receivers Name:;;Mbanefor
basil

Location:;; Cotonou Benin
Republic
Text Question:; in
Text Answer: ;good
Amount: $97 Usd.

Send the following
details to me as soon as you make the payment which are senders name and
address, Mtcn Number, Text Question and Answer Used and the amount
sent.

Once the payment of $97 Usd has been received by today, then the
bank would issue the TRANSFER CODE/TRANSFER PIN to you which you would use to
make the final transfer to any bank account of your choice.

I would be
waiting for the details as directed as soon as possible.

THANKS FOR YOUR
CO-OPERATION.

Respectively
Walter Skinner
FBI Assistant Director.

E-mail:
fbi.cebeninrepiblic66@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam