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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Bureau of Investigation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fb@fbi.gov>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:28:51 -0800
Subject: Notice Mail From Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C

We apologize for this medium of communication concerning this matter but you have to consider the fact that we had a critical problem today with the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission’s office today concerning the contrary transfer of your fund into an unknown bank account.

Nevertheless, we investigated deeply into the matter and found out that the fund had not been transferred but about to be done which had been stopped with immediate effect.

We vehemently advise you act accordingly as your fund had been placed under our custody to avoid any further problem or delay in this matter.

To this effect, you’re to contact our local agent for concrete direction:

Contact Name: JOHN STEFANIDIS III
Contact E-mail: fbilocalagent@washington.usa.com

Bear in mind that you have to be extremely careful because we found out that a criminal had been making use of the below e-mail address in frustrating you by claiming to be an agent from this office “PLEASE IGNORE AN MESSAGE FROM THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:: Fbureau@washington.usa.com FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT”

Do not reply to this mailbox: fbi@fbi.gov due to JavaScript page error. All response should be directed to our local agent at fbilocalagent@washington.usa.com

Best Regards,
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C


Anti-fraud resources: