419 scam: "Mr. Robert S Mueller" <ics@fbi.gov> UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. (FBI)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 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. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- +2348088656777 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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_office2013@yahoo.com.tw (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Robert S Mueller" <ics@fbi.gov>
Reply-To: fbi_office2013@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:41:16 +0530
Subject: UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. (FBI)

Federal Bureau of Investigation Counter-terrorism Division and Cyber Crime =
Division J. Edgar. Hoover Building Washington DC ROBERT S. MUELLER, Attenti=
on Beneficiary, Records show that you are among one of the individuals and =
organizations who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas wh=
ich includes those of Lottery/Gambling, Contract and Inheritance. Through o=
ur Fraud Monitory Unit we have noticed that you have been transacting with =
some impostors and fraudsters who have been impersonating the likes of Prof=
. Soludo /Mr. Lamido Sanusi of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Azi=
za, Bode Williams, Frank, Anderson, none officials of Oceanic Bank, Zenith =
Banks, Kelvin Young of HSBC, Ben of FedEx, Ibrahim Sule, Dr. Usman Shamsudd=
een and some impostors claiming to be The Federal Bureau of Investigation. =
The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information from the Internet =
Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) on how some people have lost outrageous sums =
of money to these impostors. As a result of this, we hereby advise you to s=
top communication with any one not referred to you by us. We have negotiate=
d with the Federal Ministry of Finance that your payment totaling $5,900,00=
0.00(Five Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars). will be released to you v=
ia a custom pin based ATM card with a maximum withdrawal limit of $15,000 a=
day which is powered by Visa Card and can be used anywhere in the world wh=
ere you see a Visa Card Logo on the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). We guar=
antee receipt of your payment. This is as a result of the mandate from US G=
overnment to make sure all debts owed to citizens of American and also Asia=
and Europe which includes Inheritance, Contract, Gambling/Lottery etc are =
been cleared. Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from Del=
ivery Company website to confirm people like you who have received their pa=
yment successfully. 1)Name Howard Keighler Tracking Number899328773367 Webs=
ite FeDex.com (2) Name: Jody Miller Tracking Number: 899571438936 Website: =
FedEx.com To redeem your funds, you are hereby advised to contact the ATM C=
ard Center via email for their requirement to proceed and procure your Appr=
oval of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order on your b=
ehalf which will cost you $550 Usd only and nothing more as everything else=
has been taken care of by the Federal Government including taxes, custom p=
aper and clearance duty so all you will ever need to pay is $550.00 only. M=
r. Kally Luis.(ATM Card Center Director) Central Bank of Nigeria Central Bu=
siness District, Cad astral Zone, federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. ATM C=
ard Center Director Mr. Kally Luis. Email: fbi_office2013@yahoo.com.tw Phon=
e: +2348088656777 Do contact Mr. Kally Luis. of the ATM Card Center via his=
contact details above and furnish him with your details as listed below: F=
ULL NAMES: __________________________________ DELIVERY ADDRESS FOR ATM CARD=
: __________________ SEX: _______________ DATE OF BIRTH: __________________=
OCCUPATION: __________________ TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________ EMA=
IL ADDRESS: _____________________ On contacting him with your details your =
file would be updated and he will be sending you the payment information in=
which you will use in making payment of $550.00 via Money Gram or Western =
Union Money Transfer for the procurement of your Approval of Payment Warran=
t and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order, after which the delivery of yo=
ur ATM card will be effected to your designated home address without any fu=
rther delay, extra fee. ROBERT S. MUELLER, DIRECTOR FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVES=
TIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 Note: D=
isregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in =
possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact wi=
th Mr. Kally Luis. of the ATM card center who is the rightful person to dea=
l with in regards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impos=
tors to this office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber cr=
ime

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam