419 scam: "FBI HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, D.C."<anti-terrorist-unit@fbi.gov> OFFICIAL WARNING FROM THE FBI FOREIGN REMITTANCE / TELEGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT

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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance document" (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 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +447010058415 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "FBI HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, D.C." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_eu@e-mail.ua>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:26:41 +0100
Subject: OFFICIAL WARNING FROM THE FBI FOREIGN REMITTANCE / TELEGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI-Washington Field Office 601 4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20535

19/12/2011

OFFICIAL WARNING FROM THE FBI FOREIGN REMITTANCE / TELEGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT

ATTENTION :

It has been discovered that your contract/inheritance/winning funds was about Being transferred to an unknown account under your name. This attempt was Perpetrated by someone who claims to be working for you, and that you have Given him due authorization to have the total funds moved to the account specified below :

SOUTHWESTERN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
WESCORP 924 OVERLAND COURT
SAN DIMAS, CA 91772. USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 322079133
ABA/ROUTING NUMBER : 1220-41-21-9
SHARETYPE NO.: 25

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) waded in after being alerted by the bank, we investigated and found that there is a possible money Laundering activity in play. The total funds (US$8,500,000.00) was found to be Deposited in Bank of America in your name pending your consent to have it Transferred to the new account indicated above. It was further revealed that initial transfer originated From London United Kingdom and now here in Bank of America in USA. These Transfers did not follow due process in line with the international Transfer rules and regulation. Consequently, we suspect this be a terrorism funding, drug related fund and money laundering . As stated above, the funds has your name on It; and you must have it cleared of any connection with any of these illegal Activities before we will instruct the Transfer to your account.

Be informed that FAILURE to have this cleared out will attract arrest and possible JAIL TERM. We will not hesitate to visit the full weight of the law upon you If you do not clear this fund. There is every indication that you are involved in this shady deal without you proving us wrong by Indicating. Finally, you are expected to have the CLEARANCE DOCUMENT obtain from the origin of the Transfer to have you and your fund cleared. Only then shall we Release your Total funds $8.5 Million Dollars as clean money devoid of any illegality, and you will be Free of any criminal involvement.

To obtain the needed clearance, you are advised to contact DR BASYL MARTYNIUK of The EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN REMITTANCE / TELEGRAPHIC DEPT to be issued the EUROPEAN UNION TRANSFER CLEARANCE . Contact him through his personal email address: ( info_eu@e-mail.ua ) and Telephone number ( +447010058415 ) respectively for security reasons.

NOTE THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 72 HOURS TO OBTAIN THE CLEARANCE DOCUMENT. IN THE MEAN TIME STOP ALL COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL AND REPORT ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FRAUD ATTEMPT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS WITHOUT YOUR NOTICE. THIS HAS TO BE CLEARED! BE WARNED!.

Faithfully Yours
Agent Sergei Goncharoff
FBI-Washington Field Office

This message may contain confidential and/or proprietary information, and is intended for the person/entity to whom it was originally addressed. Any use by others is strictly prohibited.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam