419 scam: "Foreign Payment Office (FPO)"<info@mail.org> Are you aware?

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Foreign Payment Office (FPO)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <secretary.finance@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:45:39 -0800
Subject: Are you aware?

Dear Valued beneficiary,

We apologize for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and Hiccups that we might have caused you.

However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is Inexplicable, and have held us stranded and indolent, not having the Prerequisite to devote our 100% endowment in accrediting foreign payments.

We now wish to notify you that your over due inheritance/contract funds has Finally been gazette to be released and transferred to you without any more Hitches as previously encountered.

meanwhile, during the rectification of our payment system we discovered that one Mrs. Janet White has forwarded her banking information to our bank stating that you instructed her to claim this funds on your behalf. Please find below his Banking information for your-re-confirmation:

Mrs. Janet White
Bank Name: Citi Bank
Account Number: 104390364
Routing:2093841
Address: 118 main street ,alturals CA 96101
Country:United state of America

Urgently confirm to us if you have authorized Mrs. Janet White to claim Your funds on your behalf to avoid making payment into any wrong accounts Because your name was found in the original list of beneficiary whose fund is Over due for payment.

We want to state categorically that we shall not be Liable for any miss-direction of transfer due to your failure to give us proper Directive/reconfirmation. Else we shall commence transfer Modality with Mrs.Janet White on your behalf.

In view of this you are requested to advice us immediately for appropriate Correction, if any, and send us email for proper rectification of the transfer with your valid details so that your
fund valued US$1,500.000.00 (One million five Hundred thousand United States dollars) will be remitted to your nominated Bank account as scheduled within 2-3 working days.

You are urgently required to reconfirm to us the followings:
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Residential Address:
(3) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(4) Profession, Age and Marital Status:
(5) Company/Business Name:

As soon as this information is received by this Panel, you shall be instructed On how to get this Fund released directly to you from our Nominated Bank .

For your information, this office will not be held responsible for any cancellation or delay of your fund if we do comply with the requirement.

Best regards,

Mr Adewole Ademola
Secretary of Finance
Central Bank Of Nigeria.
Foreign Payment Office(FPO).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam