419 scam: "Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)"<office@fbi.gov> Dear Beneficiary,Kindly read this email and response to it ASAP

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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. )
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "agent_frankleo@yahoo.cn" (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.
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 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.
- +2348086158229 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agent_frankleo@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 02:04:38 +0200
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,Kindly read this email and response to it ASAP

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crime Division.
J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc
Customers Service Hours / Monday To Saturday
Office Hours Monday to Saturday:

Dear Beneficiary

This is Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), based WASHINGTON, D.C we are enhanced by the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU), and right now we are presently in one of West African countries known as Nigeria and we are fighting against fraud activities in African regions now ,however we know that this message will come to you as a surprise message but we want you to believe this massage and respond to it as soon as possible for quick release of your funds.

The United Nations and African Union have been having series of meetings together for the past 7months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization and present governors of some west and south Africans countries, and the meeting ended 5 days ago.

In the meeting the united nation (UN) and their African union (AU) concluded that the Federal Bureau of Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crime Division Investigation (FBI) should go and investigate and also fight against the past to 2012 fraud activities in this African regions stated here (1) Nigeria,(2) Ghana,(3) Cote D'Ivoire,(4) Burkina Faso,(5) South Africa and (6) Benin Republic, and also to make arrests of any suspected fraudsters in the above stated African countries. This meeting was held because of many complains that the (UN) have been getting from individuals in overseas that the have been losing money from scammers in Africa and they should look into it.

And now with collaboration and help of the present governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, South Africa,Benin Republic and some other African governments, We have successfully chased out and arrested over 957 fraudsters in both west and south African regions and prosecuted over 300 government and banking officials and arrest is still going on.

Secondly we also recover over $143 Billion dollars from both cash in accounts and properties and assets confiscated from the arrested fraudsters and it is from the address books of one the arrested officials that we found your email address.

So right now we are happy to inform you that all you have lost before through the hands of this monsters that claims to be in right position of releasing your full contract or inheritance and wining funds have come back to you in abundance because the United Nations (UN) and their Africa Union (AU) counterpart is paying the sum of $1.5 million US Dollars compensation to those that have been scammed before and those that their contract/inheritance and winning funds have been delayed by these fraudsters and those whose email address and personal data s are recovered from those arrested officials,the united nation is paying all this people by issuing ATM CARD that contains 1.5 million USD to them.however we want to congratulate you because your email address is among the email addresses we found in one of those arrested imposters and you among the beneficiaries that are compensated with $1.5 million and it will be giving to you by ATM CARD.

Note that everything has been taken care of by the (UN) and your ATM CARD have been approved in your favor and issued with your name and also been registered to DHL Courier Service at once for delivery to commence. the Serial Number of your ATM MASTER CARD is 4506-8675-2345-9245 and the Identification Number is 2500,the ATM MASTER CARD only contains your $1.5 million USD nothing less and nothing high. Note you are only allow to be withdrawing maximum value of $5,000 USD per day and you can make withdrawal in any Inter Switch location and ATM Center of your choice in the world.

Thirdly you don't have any thing to be afraid of or to be worried about now that we the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved in the transaction, you have to be rest assured that this is 100% risk free; it is our duty to protect and fight crimes.

So my dear in order to effect the release of your ATM CARD that contains your $1.5 million US Dollars compensation funds you are advised to contact our corresponding Agent. Frank Leo who is the rightful person to deal with in regards of your ATM CARD CENTER with this information below and note that you are to contact him with $100usd for fee to procure your ATM CARD Approval paper permit Slip on your behalf and $150usd for shipping fee of your PACKAGE (ATM CARD) which have been registered with DHL DELIVERY COMPANY for delivery to commence to your present home address. Note that the $250usd is not for Agent Leo and you are not paying it as his own, but you are paying it to procure the approval slip of your ATM CARD on your behalf and for shipping of your PACKAGE (ATM CARD) ok, and that's your obligation in this transaction.

Below are Frank Leo contact info.

Email:agent_frankleo@yahoo.cn
Telephone: +234-8086158229.
You are advised to contact him with your information's as stated below for confirmation and security purpose.

Your full Name.............
Your Address...............
Occupation.................
Age........................
Mobile phone number........

Upon the receipt of the fees totaled $250, the delivery of your ATM CARD will be finalize and the delivery will commence after when Agent Frank Leo confirms your payment which he will gives you the payment information's that you'll use in making the payment via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram Transfer for the procurement of your ATM CARD Approval paper permit Slip and shipping fee of your PACKAGE (ATM CARD), and after that the delivery of your ATM CARD will commence and your ATM CARD will be sent to your designated home address without any further charges or delay ok.

Take note you are only advised to be in contact with Agent Frank Leo and you have to stop communication with every other person if you have been in contact with any. Only be in contact with Agent Frank Leo. be warned

Yours sincerely,
Miss Donna Story
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535

Take note again: Do disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM CARD, you are only advised to be in contact with Agent Frank Leo for the release of you funds because he is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your funds and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon and commence investigation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam