419 scam: "FBI OFFICE NEW YORK"<fbiverificationpanel@newyork.com> FROM FBI HEADQUARTERS

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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:
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348125193815
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.
- drtom-ama@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "FBI OFFICE NEW YORK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <verificationpanel_2008@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 15:08:48 -0000
Subject: FROM FBI HEADQUARTERS

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
NEW YORK OFFICE TEL:718-878-4294

DATE: 02/06/10

Good day,

This is to bring to your notice that the president of the Federal republic of Nigeria has issued authorization to commence the settlement of outstanding debts owed to foreign beneficiaries and your name is among the list of beneficiaries released.This is inline with the outcome of the meeting of the entire members of the Nigerian senate house committee members on foreign payment resolution with the Nigerian president and FBI delegates and we have come to the agreement/conclusion that every payment should be subjected to the procurement of a Government non-assessment Bond Certificate(GNAB) certificate from the Nigerian federal high court.

This Government non-assessment Bond Certificate (GNAB) will be issued to every beneficiary upon payment of a statutory fee of $450.00 ( four hundred and fifty dollars) ONLY. This GNAB Certificate will show that your transaction was made through the full capacity of the government and will not be queried for certain circumstance.

You have to note carefully that the content of the article of law established under the bank act of Nigeria for foreign transfer of page 67, cap 10 under paragraph 6, which state clearly that under no circumstance will a huge amount above $1M be remitted to overseas account without a GNAB Certificate that is why they are stressing on every concerned beneficiary getting the GNAB certificate before the release of his/her funds.

You are required to send the money to them immediately through western union money transfer or money gram which ever one that best suits your convenience using the below receivers information as they provided:

RECEIVERS NAME: TOM AMA
RECEIVERS ADDRESS: LAGOS, NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: 123
TEXT ANSWER: 456
AMT: $450

Send the payment information to their email address below and send us a copy for our own perusal:

EMAIL: drtom-ama@hotmail.com
TELEPHONE: +234-812-519-3815

NOTE: THIS IS THE ONLY PAYMENT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE IN THIS REGARDS FOR EVERY OTHER FEE HAVE BEEN WAIVED OFF BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT. SECONDLY, THIS IS THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS TRANSFER . AS SOON AS THE CERTIFICATE IS SECURED ON YOUR BEHALF, YOUR FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU.THIS A DIRECTIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

Yours Faithfully,

FBI Director
Robert S. Mueller, III

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam