419 scam: "Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)"<robertmueller@fbi.gov> Final Notification of Payment

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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 (FBI)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertsawnmuelleriii@live.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:24:08 +0200
Subject: Final Notification of Payment

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE.
PO Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
877 Pretorius St,
Arcadia, Pretoria. R.S.A
Tel: (+27) (07) 898 21 808
Fax: (+27) (07) 898 21 808

RE: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET

Attn: Sir/Madam,

We the Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) African Regional Office in conjunction with some other relevant Investigation Agencies like Internal Revenue Service here in Pretoria, South Africa have recently been informed through our Global intelligence monitoring network that you have been scammed by those scammers from Nigeria, Ghana, United Kingdom, Malaysia, China and Numerous scammer related countries.

We also want you to know that the UNITED NATION have been compensating the scam victims by the advance scam Refunds going on in Africa and have mapped out the sum of US$100,000,000.00 to compensate the scam victim here on our list and your details is among the over 200 scam victims files.

We will like you to know that the UNITED NATIONS are compensating the scam victim with the sum of US$80,000.00 each to the over 200 scam victims. We have been paying out compensation for over 3 weeks now and we basically have three method of payments stated below.

1) We will send you a Cheque that could be exchange for cash at your designated Bank

2) An ATM Card would be sent to you. This card could be used with any ATM machine world wide and verified by VISA.

3) Transfer direct to your account in your designated country of choice

Your urgent response is required with your option of choice of receiving your compensation. Furthermore we will like you to stop communicating with any scam emails you have received previously as this is to help us stop scam going on.

Best Regards,

Robert S. Mueller III
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam