419 scam: "Mr. Christopher A" <info@lee.org> FBI Headquarters Washington, D.C.52.172.214.166

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
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.
- officeoffice950@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- avenue, nw washington, d.c. 20423-0002 e-mail: officeoffice950@aol.com attention: beneficiary this is to officially inform you that (Aol; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Christopher A" <info@lee.org>
Reply-To: private01718@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:29:34 -0700
Subject: FBI Headquarters Washington, D.C.52.172.214.166

FBI Headquarters Washington, D.C.
J.Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw Washington, D.C. 20423-0002
E-MAIL: officeoffice950@aol.com

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY

This is to officially inform you that we have completed an investigation on an
International Payment in which was issued to you by an International Lottery
Company . With the help of our newly developed technology (International
Monitoring Network System) we discovered that your e-mail address was
Automatically selected by an Online Balloting System, this has legally won you
the sum of $8.5 million USD from a Lottery Company outside the United States of
America. We have authorized this winning to be paid to you via INTERNATIONAL
CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT .

The stated amount of $8.5 million USD has been deposited with International Monetary
Fund (IMF).We have completed this investigation and you are hereby approved to receive
the winning prize as we have verified the entire transaction to be Safe and 100%
risk free, due to the fact that the funds have been deposited with International
Monetary Fund (IMF) you will be required to settle the following bills directly
to the Agent in-charge of this transaction whom is located in Abuja, Republic Of
Nigeria in West Africa According to our discoveries, you were required to pay for
the following,

1: Deposit Fee's*
IMF INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE*

Contact: Mr. Paul Rochers, International Monetary Fund (IMF) agent.

Contact Manager: Mr. Paul Rochers
Email: paulrochers493@gmail.com

You will be required to e-mail him with the following information:

FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
TRANSACTION CODE:

You will also be required to request Western Union or Money Gram details on how
to send the required $185.00 in order to immediately ship your prize of $8.5
Million USD via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT from International Monetary
Fund (IMF), also include the following transaction code in order for him to
immediately identify this transaction :( TPS014P_CL01).

This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is
You to pay the required $185.00 ONLY to Mr. Paul Rochers International
Monetary Fund (IMF) information in which he shall send to you.

Mr. Christopher A. Wray Director FBI,
III Director Office of Public Affairs
E-MAIL :(officeoffice950@aol.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam