419 scam: FBI <fbi@fbi.gov> THIS IS THE (F.B.I)

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic delivery"
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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- fbi_cyberwatch_us@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FBI <fbi@fbi.gov>
Reply-To: fbi_cyberwatch_us@info.lt
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:58:10 +0100
Subject: THIS IS THE (F.B.I)

THIS IS THE (F.B.I)

=20

http://www.fbi.gov=20
fbi_cyberwatch_us@yahoo.com.hk=20
Robert S. Mueller=20
Executive Director FBI

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE =
INTERNET

Dear Esteem Beneficiary,

Have you receive your fund from the FedEx Courier Service Nigeria? Or=
from any organization claiming that they have your fund with them? W=
e have been watching every transactions that you made from last year =
2008 up till date and you have to know that we are also working to ma=
ke sure that your fund which is supposed to be delivered to you some =
days ago can be immediately be delivered to you without any further d=
elay or any kind of excuses.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation does not want any of our citizens=
to lose their fund and that is why we have been working every hour o=
n our cyber watch department so you won=92t get burnt by this scammer=
s.

We are aware of every payment you have made on the transaction you ar=
e into to make the transaction succeed, yet the fund is still held do=
wn by the drug law agency and the immigration officer at the airport.

We want you to take note that our special investigation service diplo=
matic men are the one to deliver your fund of $5.8million to you with=
out any further roadblock agencies.

The diplomatic delivery men are in Nigeria where your fund is origina=
ted at the international airport now, as soon as you get back to this=
email by applying to the instruction that is sent to you, the delive=
ry will take effect immediately.

The payment you are to send now so that your fund can finally get to =
you is the sum of $400USD for the airport clearance of your fund due =
to the huge amount of money, and as soon as this has been sent down v=
ia money gram or western union international money transfer, the deli=
very will take immediate effect by the delivery diplomatic men.

You have to stop every transaction you are into and communication wit=
h other organization to avoid delay on processing of your fund and wr=
ong contact that is why we at the FBI have email you to warn you that=
your fund is in Nigeria at the immigration office where the diplomat=
ic men will deliver it to you personally as soon as the payment of $4=
00USD is sent to them.

Get back to us at the FBI as soon as you receive this email.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Robert S. Mueller,
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam