419 scam: FBI SECRET AGENT <inlandrevenue436@gmail.com> From: FBI Special Agent, Atlanta, GA 30345 USA

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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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: FBI SECRET AGENT <inlandrevenue436@gmail.com>
Reply-To: FBI SECRET AGENT <markfgiuliano2015@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2015 19:30:04 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From: FBI Special Agent, Atlanta, GA 30345 USA

>From the office of Agent Mark F. Giuliano
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI?s Atlanta Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Intelligence field unit
2635 Century Parkway N.E,
Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30345 USA

Urgent Attention:

We sincerely apologized for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a certified mail, post-mail, phone or face to face conversation, it's due to the urgency and importance of the security information of our citizenry. I am Special Agent Mark F Giuliano from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Atlanta Division) Intelligence Unit. We have just intercepted and confiscated two (2) trunk boxes at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta international airport, and are on the verge of moving it to our bureau head quarters.

We have scanned the said boxes, and have found it to contain a total sum of 5.8Million US Dollars and also backup document which bears your name as the receiver of the money contained in the boxes. Investigations carried out on the diplomat who accompanied the boxes into the United States has it that he was to deliver this fund to your residence as your contract/inheritance payment which was due from the office of Federal Ministry of Finance in Federal Government of Benin Republic.

We cross-checked all legal documentation in the boxes, and were about to release the consignment to the diplomat, when we found out that the boxes is lacking one very important documentation which as a result, the boxes have been confiscated until the required document is provided.

According to section 229 subsections 31 of the 1991 constitution on release of unclaimed consignment payment, your consignment lacks Authorization Release Permit Certificate (A.R.P.C) which must be obtain from Federal High Court of Justice Benin Republic been the originator of your consignment/fund and it will cost you 155 US dollars only. Thus, you are required to rush down to your nearest Western Union or Money-Gram straightaway and remit the 155 US dollars with the Benin Republic Federal High Court accountant details listed below so that your consignment can be legally cleared for delivery to you to today.

Here are the Federal High Court of Justice accountant details where to remit the 155 US dollars through Western Union or Money-Gram for the clearance and onward delivery of your consignment within the next 24hours.

Receivers Name: Mr. Mr. JOHN ODIKE
Country and City: Cotonou Benin Republic
Text Question: How Long
Text Answer: 24hours
Amount To Be Send: 155 US dollars only

Note; You are required to get back to this bureau with the 155 US dollars payment details within the next 24 hours or we would take it that you do not want your consignment, and we would move it down to the treasury.

Thank you for your understanding, humbleness and co-operation while patiently waiting for your quick and rapid feedback.

Yours in service,
Agent Mark F Giuliano
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Division.
From: FBI Special Agent, Atlanta, GA 30345 USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam