419 scam: United States Federal Reserve <janet.yellen@federalreserve.com> NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PAYMENT RELEASE

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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: United States Federal Reserve <janet.yellen@federalreserve.com>
Reply-To: michaellawson147@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2015 11:52:44 +0700
Subject: NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PAYMENT RELEASE

The United States Federal Reserve
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20551
Office of the Vice Chairman

NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PAYMENT RELEASE

Attention Sir/Madam

This is to officially inform you that we are auditing accounts in the
Federal Reserve and it just came to our notice that your fraud
victim?s compensation payment of $5,000,000 has not been transferred
to you. Your file states that you have sent a lot of money and
obtained all necessary documents regarding this payment and has not
been able to secure your fund which is currently pending claims in the
vault of the United States Federal Reserve. Be informed that further
delay in the claims of your fund will lead to the confiscation of your
fund. Approval has been given for the immediate release of your fund
without further fees.

With this regards, You are advised to immediately get back to me on
your choice of receiving your payment:

1-Bank Transfer
2-Certified Bank Draft

Our transfer department shall immediately proceed on the release of
your fund to you. According to the financial regulatory authority, the
process and release of your fund shall be completed within 48hours.Be
also informed that this process is strictly supervised and completely
legitimate in order to protect you from further loss of fund. Your
urgent response is awaited.

Yours Faithfully,
Janet Yellen
Vice Chairman
United States Federal Reserve

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam