419 scam: "FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION" FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

joewein.net

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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "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: "FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <katherine.robert@fb-iusonline.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:23:51 -0800
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION

FBI HEADQUARTERS IN RUSIAN FEDERATION

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING

935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001

Website: www.fbi.gov

Email : katherine.robert@fb-iusonline.com

ATTENTION FUND BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ADVICE FROM THE F.B.I FOREIGN REMITTANCE/TELEGRAPHIC DEPT., IT HAS COME TO OUR NOTICE THAT THE C.B.N (CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA) HAS RELEASED The paper work of $100,500,000.00USD INTO BANK OF AMERICA (BOA) which was been handled by GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. and your name was included as the BENEFICIARY BY INHERITANCE MEANS.

It comes to our notice after several meetings with the UNITED NATION (U.N) over Internet Fraud which have been going on around the globe recently and rendering innocent individual homeless and bankrupt, therefore we have made connections with every NATIONAL GOVERNMENT and we have been successful so far by getting most of the funds released and we are transferring it into the rightful beneficiary accounts.

Therefore you have to report back to us through email so that we can confirm the paper work of your fund that the bank sent down and process the investigation so that the transfer can be deposited into your designated bank account and you can finally get your inherited fund that was denied of you by some unscrupulous element de-frauding you and taking your hard earned money.We will advice that you do not make contact with any individual, firm and company who claims you have won a lottery or you have some fund somewhere because they are all frauds and lies.

Immediately we recieve your response, we will direct you to the bank where your fund is and you will make contact with them and your fund will be transferred into your designated bank account through thier ONLINE BANKING SYSTEM (OBS) within 72hrs immediately your form are submitted.You are to note that this should be keep profoundly secret so as to avoid loss of funds by any means.

                                                                                                                       MRS. KATHERINE ROBERT

                                                                                                       FBI FOREIGN REMITTANCE/TELEGRAPHIC DEPT

                                                                                                                        katherine.robert@fb-iusonline.com

                                                                                                                                 206-279-4718

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam