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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Bureau Of Investigation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbiwdc.usoffice@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:10:00 -0800
Subject: GET BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...

OFFICIAL LETTER FROM FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FBI.WASHINGTON DC.
ROBERT MUELLER III.
FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET
 
ATTENTION: CITIZEN/BENEFICIARY,
 
FROM: ROBERT MUELLER III EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON DC. FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).Through our intelligence monitoring network has discovered that the transaction that the bank contacted you previously was legal.Recently the fund has been legally approved to be paid via Central Bank of Nigeria. So, we the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Dc, in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) financial department have investigated through our monitoring network noting that your transaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria legal.
 
You have the legitimate right to complete your transaction to claim your fund US$20.5,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Five hundred thousands United States dollars) Because of so much scam going on in Nigeria.We the Federal Bureau of Investigation decided to contact the FedEx Courier Service Company in Nigeria for immediate procedures on how to sent this money to you without any further complain or delay. We just got an information from the Central Bank of Nigeria and they have loaded your US$20.5,000,000.00 in ATM CARD and submit to the FedEx courier service company for immediate delivery to your doorstep.
 
You are required to choose one option, which you will be able to pay and also convenient for you, for quick delivery of your parcel containing your ATM CARD and other two original back up documents.
 
Service Type | Delivery Duration | Charges/Fees
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premium Express (24hrs Delivery)
Mailing $200.00 00.00
Insurance $150.00 00.00
Vat $100.00 00.00
TOTAL $450.00
$450(Four Hundred and fifty US Dollars Only).
......................................................................
Special Express (2 Days)
Mailing $1800.00 00.00
Insurance $70.00 00.00
Vat $150.00 00.00
TOTAL $4000.00 00.00
$380(Three Hundred and Eighty US Dollars Only).
............................................................................
Economy Express (3Days)
Mailing $100.00 00.00
Insurance$?150.00 00.00
Vat (5%) $50.00 00.00
TOTAL $300.00 00.00
$300(Three Hundred US Dollars Only).
....................................................................
 
You are hereby required to advice us, on your parcel delivery option by filling in the required form stated above. Please note that the deadline for claiming your fund is exactly one week after the receipt of this email. After this period, your fund will be return back to the ordering costumer. That is the instruction given to us .So take note. We request that you reconfirm your mailing address to ensure conformity with our record for immediate dispatch of your parcel to you. Only valid residential/Office address and postal address are certified OK.
 
DELIVERY DESTINATION INFORMATION:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Receiver's Name :.......
Address:................
Tel/:...................
Delivery Information/ Parcel Description
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivery Terms: International Delivery
Condition Of Delivery:Priority Delivery
Consignment Note No: MI 49866-2110
Color of Parcel: ...Brown.
Total Weight: 36.2 kg
Total Net Weight: 1.7 kg
 
We are here to protect you from any problem till you receive your package, You can as well get in touch with the FedEx delivery company assigned to deliver this financial package to your doorstep.
 
Below is the delivery companies contact information:
 
 
Companies Name: Federal Express Courier Service.
Directors Name: MR. Ben Morgan.
Email: fed_ex_courier.office_direct@diplomats.com
 
 
Looking forward to hear from you as soon as you receive this message.
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert S. Mueller III
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C.
20535-0001, USA
 

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