419 scam: "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI"<federal_bureau_of@usa.com> FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI. WASHINGTON DC.

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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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.
- 234
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.
- federalbureauofi@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <federalbureauofi@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 07:51:08 +0800
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI. WASHINGTON DC.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI. WASHINGTON DC. FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET >From Head Department: Dr. Linda Williams and Robert S. Mueller III Email:(federalbureauofi@gmail.com) Attnention Beneficiary, Due to my position in service I called the Embassy shipping service head quarter of NIGERIA and made a complain to them in regard to your package and I also told them that I want your package to be shipped to you as soon as possible. I received an update from the Embassy today in regard to your package I want you to follow there advice and instruction so that your package can be shipped to you. They made me understand that the charge fee holding your package is $107 only and once the charge fee is paid shipment will commence that same day. My advice to you now is to go ahead and send the $107 to them I will make sure shipment commences once the charge fee is received by them. Note: MY ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS TRANSACTION TO COME TO AN END IMMEDIATELY, YOU NEED TO COMPLY ACCORDINGLY TO OUR DIRECTIVES. Make sure you keep me updated once you receive your package and also let me know once you send the charge fee required so I can also make sure shipment commence that same day. I WANT YOU TO USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO SEND THE REQUIRED CHARGE FEE. I WILL FORWARD THE CONFIRMATION DETAILS TO HIM AND I WILL MAKE SURE SHIPMENT COMMENCE ONCE THEY RECEIVED THE CHARGE FEE. BELOW IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION OF:.............ADEDOTUN ADERIBIGBE Dr. Linda Williams and Robert S. Mueller III Federal Bureau of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue,NW Washington, D.C.2535-0001, USA. ================================================================= WEBSITE: http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/directmain.htm WEBSITE: tttp://www.fbi.gov/libref/executives/director.htm ================================================================== SEND THE CHARGE FEE VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION AND I ASSURE YOU SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE. RECEIVER NAME:ADEDOTUN ADERIBIGBE ADDRESS: 4TH AVE.GLASS BUILDING FST. CITY: LAGOS COUNTRY: NIGERIA ZIP CODE: 234 TEXT QUESTION:::::WHAT FOR ANSWER:: :::: SERVICES MTCN:..... Once payment is made get back to me with the payment confirmation details required below so shipment can commence. and I will forward it for shipment to commence immediately. SENDER NAME:?? CONFIRMATION MTCN NUMBER:?? SENDER ADDRESS :?? AMOUNT SENT?? TEXT QUESTION USED?? ANSWER USED:?? DR.LINDA F.B.I TRANSACTION DEPARTMENT Robert S. Mueller III Federal Bureau of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III Email:federalbureauofi@gmail.com ============================================================= CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise be protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original. This is HTML source of message you composed. Do not modify here. To modify this message press HTML Messages Editor button.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam