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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: "Mr. Robert S. Mueller III" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robmuellerfbi01@globomail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:32:39 +0100
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION***

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONEY LAUNDRY 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
Attention: Fund beneficiary.
 
This is an official advice from the FBI, Foreign Remittance/Telegraphic Dept. (FRTD) it has come to our notice that the C.B.N (Central Bank of Nigeria) Africa has released your part of Inheritance/Contract Payment of 10,500,000.00 U.S Dollars into Bank of America in your name as the beneficiary.
 
The bank in Africa knowing fully well that they do not have enough facilities to effect this payment from Europe to your account, used what we know as a secret diplomatic transit payment S.T.D.P to pay this fund through wire transfer. They are still waiting for final confirmation from you on the already transferred funds, to enable them credit your account accordingly. Secret diplomatic transfer payment are normally funds related to drug/terrorist and money laundry system of payment, why must your payment be made in such secret transfer , if your transaction is legitimate and not related to drug/terrorist and money laundry, why can't the bank in Africa via Europe effect direct transfer into your account than secret diplomatic payment transfer.
 
Due to the increased difficulties and unnecessary scrutiny by the American authorities when funds come from through such payment process from Europe, Africa and middle East, based on the records we had in the past always identified such method of payment as drug/ terrorist/money laundry funds, to avoid problem with the US government as soon as these funds reflect in your account in the U.S.A, it is our compulsory obligations to establish the credentials and official recognition of this funds before the final crediting into your account.
 
We advice you to contact us right away, as the funds have been stopped and held in our custody pending when you are able to provide us with a diplomatic immunity seal of transfer (DIST) within 3 days from the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) in Africa, where the funds was transfered from.
 
This document empowers the transfer and also licenses, that funds originating from Africa and Middle East are free from terrorist/drug and money laundry.
 
Failure to do this will warrant us to confiscate these funds and further prosecute you for charges of terrorism and money landering.
 
We will allow the funds to be release into your account at as soon as you make provision for the essential document.
 
You will be directed where and how to get the document if it is not in your custody.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Mr. Robert S. Mueller III
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation.


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