419 scam: "Christopher A. Wray" <adam@topnew.cn> Dear Beneficial Clients!

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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "service fee" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cashier's check" (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. )
- "cashiers check" (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. )
- "gvnizelos705@yandex.com" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Christopher A. Wray" <adam@topnew.cn>
Reply-To: gvnizelos705@yandex.com
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:16:21 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficial Clients!

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J.Edgar.Hoover Building,
935 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20535, USA
Customers Service Hours Are From 8:15 a.m. To 5:00 p.m., Monday Through Saturday.
Office Hours Monday to Sunday:

Dear Beneficial Clients;

A series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization, which ended Three(3) days ago. It was obviously documented that you are yet to receive your compensation funds to the tune amount of $2,800,000.00 due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the funds to themselves for their selfish reason(s), and some people who have taken advantage of your funds all in an attempt to swindle away with your funds which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your funds.

The International Monetary Funds(IMF) enhanced by the United States government and the Federal Bureau of Investigations have successfully passed a mandate to the administration to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other beneficial and organizations who have been found not to have received their Contract Sum, Lottery/Gambling, Inheritance, and the likes. Your payment has been sanctioned by the Supreme Court, you are therefore required to make an option on how you would like to receive your payment, as there are two(2) methods of payment available to you, which is either by Certified Cashier's Check or by ATM card delivery?

ATM Card: We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will be able to make use to withdraw up to $12,000.00 USD per day from any Automated Teller Machine near you. Also with the ATM card, you will be able to make transfers to any or your local bank account. The ATM card comes with a handbook or manual to enlighten you on how to use it. Even if you do not have a bank account.

Certified Cashier's Check: To be deposited in your bank for it to be cleared within three working days. Your payment would be sent to you via any of your preferred options and would be mailed to you via FedEx. We guarantee the receipt of your funds to be successfully delivered to you within the stipulated time frame to be calculated by the freight company to your designated residential/receivers address.

N.B: Everything has been taken care of by the United States Government and the Federal Bureau of Investigations which includes IRS taxes, custom paper, and clearance duty, You will only be required to remit a total estimated security keeping fee sum of $480, nothing more and no hidden charges or fees of any sort!

To effect the release of your total Compensation Sanctioned funds valued at $2,800,000.00, you are advised to contact the agent and fiduciary officer assigned to your case file, Mr. George Venizelos with the information stated below,

Name: George Venizelos
Email: gvnizelos705@yandex.com

You are advised to contact him with the information as stated:

Full Name:
Residential Address (Not P.O Box):
Home/Cell Phone:
Preferred Payment Method (ATM / Cashiers Check):

Upon receipt of payment of the total estimated security keeping fee of $480, our assigned fiduciary officer will be mandated to ensure a safe and swift initiation and complete delivery of your sealed parcel to you within the stipulated time frame accumulated. Our money back guarantee states that a refund of the service fee remitted by you will be made back to you if parcel delivery fails to meet our promised commitments for Priority Service and QuickLane, and for each day in a delay we will pay an amount equaling four times the current legal interest rate

Regards,

Christopher A. Wray
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, DC
20535-0001, USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam